Dive into Brooklyn's Refreshing, Guerrilla Dumpster Pool!

Reclaiming a parking lot with an innovative temporary swimming pool.

See 6 Swimming Safety Tips and Natural Swimming Pools.

July 16, 2009 at 3:38PM by Brian Clark Howard | comment

Refreshing, crystal-clear natural pools are tantalizing in summer heat: a watery oasis free from chlorine or other toxic chemicals, where one can workout doing laps or simply chillax and cool off. Another form of "green swimming" is also now debuting this summer, as hipster artists transform recycled dumpsters into temporary swimming pools.

dumpster pool made in brooklyn by macro-sea

The group Macro-Sea Pools has turned three large trash dumpsters into an appealing swimming pool in an empty Brooklyn parking lot. The idea is a creative, adaptive re-use in a largely impoverished neighborhood, offering chillout and recreational opportunities to the locals (the pool is currently not open to the general public). The phenomenon has been covered by ReadyMade, The Fun Times Guide to Living Green, MNN, Inhabitat and others. Not surprisingly, because it's pretty cool!

There's also a fantastic video about the making of the pool, as well as the philosophy behind it, made by my friend Kelly Loudenberg. Check that out on Babelgum, then watch the other great episodes in Babelgum's New Urbanism series. The Waterpod looks especially cool. I like how the pool video profiles the owner of the parking lot, who seems like a real character. Plus, one of the hipsters who helped make it come alive looks a lot like Adam Goldberg.

See you at the pool!

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