Martin Schapira, who established Okeanos Aquascaping in 2002 with close friend Nathan Kamelhar, is behind some of the most elaborate and eye-catching aquatic projects in New York City and across the globe. A New York based high-end aquarium and pond design firm, recently earned a spot on the Robb Report’s list of most exclusive holiday gifts with their backyard pool-and-aquarium complex. Starting at $11 million, the water complex design features a 30-foot-by-60-foot freshwater swimming pool that shares two of its walls with a massive glass saltwater aquarium.
With a depth of 25 feet, the L-shaped aquarium will run from the bottom of the swimming pool to 15 feet above its surface. Two of the aquarium’s aboveground facades will merge with the interior of the home, resulting in both indoor and outdoor viewing areas. The key component of Okeanos Swim’s creations is integrated use of chemical-free water in the pool which the makers have achieved by combining proprietary handmade filtration and water-flow systems. Their innovative method ensures that the water is, at all times, free from harmful bacteria and organic matter without the use of conventional chemicals like chlorine.
Once you send in a request, their teams will take as much as five months to complete the customization here which includes tailoring the layout and design of the pool, aquarium, and surrounding landscape and furnishings to the client’s preferences. The most engaging part of the process, though, will be the careful selection of the aquarium’s marine lif. The sizable volume of the aquarium provides countless options for marine life, ranging up to 5-foot black-tip reef sharks!
So if you have $11 million and more lying around, this aquatic display embellishment will surely uplift the beauty of your backyard.