Just in time for warm summer weather in NYC, we came across this AWESOME guerrilla design project: swimming pools in Brooklyn — made out of old dumpsters! We’re salivating at the thought of diving into one of these re-purposed trash receptacles to take a swim. (Certainly, a phrase we never thought we’d utter). No word on the pool’s exact location, (if we knew we would be there right now swimming), but read on for more insight into its creation!
Our friends at ReadyMade were the first to discover the guerrilla pool built by a trio of creatives and designers: Jocko Weyland, David Belt, and Alix Feinkind, who started Macro|Sea. They had seen the dumpster pool originally done in Athens, Georgia by Curtis Crowe of the band Pylons, and decided to recreate it. This summer is the testing and prototype phase for their adaptive reuse project, and they hope to build more in strip malls around America.
It took only 12 days to get the materials and put everything together for their grand opening on July 4th. For the DIY-ers out there, you’ll need to buy a big dumpster, seal up the seams, add a liner, fill it with sand for a soft bottom, add a tarp and a lot of water.
Macro|Sea’s mission statement is to “do projects we find interesting.” Beyond creating secret pool hangouts in parking lots in Brooklyn, the team also focuses on the redevelopment of strip malls. Much like our own desire to overhaul suburbia in our design competition REBURBIA, Macro|Sea hopes to transform the American strip mall. “By stripping and altering its [strip malls] common architectural features, adding community space and involvement, and carefully selecting and curating vendors and the space itself, Macro-Sea hopes to create and promote a place for people to shop, meet, learn, and engage with one another.”
Along with their redevelopment of strip malls, they hope that the dumpster pools will show people that “with not too much expense you can creatively reuse what is basically considered urban detritus and make something really cool and fun and also fairly easy to put together.” While dumpsters are not generally destined for the landfill, their point is to use something that is already made and available to create something new. Count us in. If only we knew where it was…
via BoingBoing via ReadyMade
12 Responses to “Dumpster Dive LITERALLY Into a Guerrilla Dumpster Pool!”
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Hey there folks. We had a reader comment over at our site about the idea of starting a business “renting dumpster pools” which I think sounds amazing. Then I thought, well, the Park(ing) Day folks should definitely start this trend! Anyhow, I also posted another photo of the pools under construction that people might want to check out. Take a look if you get the chance:
http://www.readymade.com/blogs/readymade/2009/07/07/dumpster-diving/
Thanks for your interest!
Hey Thanks Andrew!
The dumpster pool is such a sweet idea. And renting one could totally work. Thanks for all the awesome pictures. Let us know if you get to go and how it was. I know you’ll be sworn to secrecy on the location, but looking at pictures of swimming is better than nothing.
Congratulations on such an innovative project and product. Are you actually making these units to sell? Curious as to what it would cost to get the basic dumpster, obviously same size it appears you use?
What an amazing approach & a great design. My question is how would you treat a vessel like this? What sort of chemicals do you use to treat the water with?
This is totally cool, but completely breaks many building codes and health safety requirements for cities in the USA.
Any of these dumpster pools in or around Rochester NY?
Check out more renderings of the dumpster pools at http://www.cpmalloy.com
The city use to have to low belly trucks with an open side that bolted together. They were then line with a plastic liner and filled from the fire hydrant (Johnny Pump) for Block Parties. Bell phone company used to have a van loaded with Music and amplifiers. They would set up speakers on the street poles and provide all type of free music for the block parties also.
chupahunter must be a government official.. great idea for personal use…
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[...] into makeshift swimming pools exclusively for the public to enjoy. Already in its third week, the guerilla pools have attracted New Yorkers and tourists of all ages, all aching to show off their seasoned swimming [...]
Absolutely brilliant. Add a Fastlane and you got yourself an Endless Pool! http://www.endlesspools.com/