Thames Baths

Commissioned by Bäderland Hamburg, the architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (.architects) have prepared a feasibility study for a public natural outdoor facility at ’s (Outer Alster) lake. The concept envisions a new natural complex at the historic Schwanenwik site, once again making Hamburg’s waterways more accessible to the public.

From The Penny Illustrated News in June 1875.
The press bemoaning the new Charing Cross Baths that lacked the openness and boldness of the Seine’s floating baths.
One for / / / to chuckle over.
Paris may still have some of the best floating baths but watch out, London is coming!

1951 - Police stop kids from swimming in River Thames.

Aerial view of the Donald D. Summerville Pools, aka The Pools at .
Love this pool. Something for to enjoy. I guess this all about building an elevated on a floodplain.
Credit: City of , from 1970s.

This is a fantastic proposal by City of Vancouver and - congratulations to all involved!

“This flagship project was announced on November 3rd, 2025 alongside the launch of the WAVE Prize – a new Swim Drink Fish-led initiative to increase public access to urban swimmable waters in B.C. This project will create much-needed public space and stand as a powerful example of how thoughtful investment can reclaim urban waterfronts and bring swimmable, inclusive spaces back to city life.

Construction will begin in the spring of 2026 with an expected opening in spring of 2027.

The project has been made possible through a $16 million donation from the Weston family to Swim Drink Fish. The City of North Vancouver is contributing $5 million in capital funding, staff resources to manage implementation; and ongoing responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the deck.

Because the project is at the feasibility and concept stage, the actual costs to operate and maintain this infrastructure will become clearer as the technical work advances. At this stage we are looking at an estimated cost of $500K a year, which will include staffing, security, safety, physical maintenance, and needed amenities like change and washrooms.“

This is the future - thank you and friends.

The place to be, Piscine Deligny!

“The history of the Deligny swimming pool began with Barthélemy Turquin (also inventer of the life jacket) who set up the city’s first école de natation on a floating jetty on the Seine in 1785. Between 1801 and 1803, a man seemingly known to history only as ‘maitre-nageur Deligny’ (but who was also Turquin’s son-in-law and heir) took over the management of the school and built a more permenant, solid structure alongside what is today the Quai Anatole France in the 7th arrondissement. His name stayed with the establishment throughout its history.”

“By the 1990s, the historic Piscine Deligny was the last floating pool left on the Seine. It had already caught fire once, been hit by a passing boat and finally, on one fateful summer’s day in 1993, the pool sank to the bottom of the in less than forty minutes for reasons still unexplained.“

Friend, supporter, & aficionado, of , takes his tote everywhere. I’ve never seen him without it! Now it’s in 🇰🇪 👏🏼
Frodo is also a huge supporter of, and advisor to . SC are honoured 🙏🏻 to have the support of for this year’s inaugural summit in .

One from the very early days, 24th November 2015 & recently rediscovered.
What’s really great is this fantastic drawing by Gaz captured the whole story. What’s less great is although things have improved with regard to swimmable water in London, we’re nowhere near where other cities are with their river. Cities like Zurich, Basel & now Paris, are way ahead. The is now working on it and we hope to continue to support the Mayor’s work. As does which we are a founding signatory of. And our leader co-founded.