In an era where “wellness” has become a way of life, the private swimming pool has undergone a quiet revolution. No longer just a status symbol or place to cool off, the home pool has transformed into a sanctuary for healing and mental clarity.
For Israel’s ultra-wealthy, who both understand the value of investing in body and mind and can afford to do so, the backyard pool has become the family’s new meditation room.
In recent years, the design of luxury pools in Israel has reached near-artistic heights. These aren’t just pools—they’re fully integrated wellness environments, featuring complex architectural elements, lush natural landscaping and lighting that shifts with the time of day. The goal is clear: to create a complete, immersive wellness experience without leaving home.
For obvious reasons, discretion is paramount among this elite clientele, who have little interest in prying eyes. To gain rare access, and perhaps a serene dip in a million-shekel pool, I enlisted the help of Avner Zadok, CEO of Plagim, a firm that specializes in planning and constructing high-end pools.
A space for calm and clarity
On a summer morning in a central Israeli neighborhood whose name we won’t disclose, Zadok opens the gate to a world of stunning, understated opulence. “We’re at one of the most beautiful spots in the country, with one of the most extraordinary pools we’ve built,” he says proudly. “Everything here is completely natural, overlooking a genuine nature reserve. Birds chirping, water lapping—it’s pure bliss. The pool blends so seamlessly into the landscape, you feel like you’re part of nature when you're in it.”
The pool itself stretches 16 meters long and 7 meters wide, divided into a lounging area and a deep swimming zone. Built in an infinity-edge style, the water spills over the zero line, creating the illusion that it merges endlessly with the pastoral horizon.
And the price tag for this slice of heaven? Zadok hesitates, then confirms: “Around a million shekels.” The cost, he explains, reflects not just the pool’s size, but the level of planning, craftsmanship and unique elements involved. “It’s not just a pool,” he says, “it’s a language—something that speaks in harmony with everything around it.”
The homeowner offers me a perfect espresso before I change into a swimsuit and slip into the crystal-clear water. Beneath the surface, the heat and stress dissolve, and I savor a few precious minutes of quiet luxury—an intimate moment of therapeutic stillness.
As it turns out, the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing rounds of fighting have taught Israel’s billionaires a hard truth: there’s little point in waiting for international travel. The private pool, tucked behind the villa’s gates, has become the family’s central gathering point and wellness hub.
“These pools are pure wellness,” says Zadok. “In the chaos of Israeli life, they’re essential spaces of calm and peace. A pool is anti-stress. You come home and shed the pressure of your day. Water is soothing, uplifting and freeing. Without it, the kids are on their screens all day, everyone retreats to their rooms. But here—here, there’s connection. There’s family.”
Hundreds of hours of work
I’m still in my swimsuit as I arrive at the next stop on the tour. Architect Dan Israelevitz reminds me again not to reveal the location of the pool or any details about his client. Then he opens the gate to one of the most striking projects I’ve seen in Israel: a private home where the pool isn’t part of the house—it is the house.
“It all started with a fantasy, a desire to create something completely unique,” Israelevitz explains. “The client asked for a home surrounded by water. There were no budget limitations, so I took it as far as I could. The result is a house that appears to float above the pools.”
You enter the home via a walkway of stepping stones that hover just above the water. “The water almost touches the underside, creating the illusion of walking on water,” he says. “Everywhere you look, it’s reflected in the water. The design creates a stunning sense of serenity and infinite space. Water is the heart of the house.”
Inside, the central patio is composed of a series of shallow pools. “There’s a unique design approach here—rounded ceiling elements that are partly open, partly closed, letting in natural light in an unusual way. The reflections in the water create dynamic and constantly shifting patterns of light and shadow throughout the day,” Israelevitz explains.
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“The patio feels like an indoor botanical garden. The greenery blends seamlessly with the water, creating an atmosphere of deep calm and total privacy. The interplay between plants, water and architecture produces a truly exceptional experience. This is a home built to dissolve stress—a place where you step inside, take a deep breath and feel the tension melt away.”
The showpiece is the 30-meter-long main pool, designed with tailored lounging and swimming areas. “The client’s kids are swimmers, so the dimensions were planned with exact precision,” Israelevitz notes. “This project was a meticulous collaboration with the client, who is also a contractor. He put in hundreds of hours of work. Every detail was reviewed, every element designed with incredible care. Nothing was left to chance. It’s a true work of art.”
On the question of cost, Israelevitz politely declines to give numbers. “It’s a major investment,” he says. “Hundreds of hours of high-level planning and execution. Anyone in the field will know what that means.”
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Water is the heart of the home. View of the pool from the living room
(Photo: Assaf Kamar)
Walking along the sun-dappled water-filled patio, I’m reminded of a visit to a Shinto temple in Japan. I want this wellness. I want this peace. I want a pool that anchors my home.
One short plunge into the cool water and I’m transported into a sensory world of shapes, shadows, and shimmering light. Wild nature beyond the windows adds another layer of luxury. I try not to be jealous. In a few minutes, I’ll return to reality. For now, I take a deep breath and dive into a pool that’s worth as much as a house.
- Architecture and design: Israelevitz Architects.