SWIM CITY exhibition opened at Swiss Architecture Museum

Swim City, an exhibition curated by Barbara Buser, Andreas Ruby and Yuma Shinohara, and featuring + POOL opened May 25th at the Swiss Architecture Museum in Basel, Switzerland. We joined our friends from Berlin (Flussbad Berlin), Brussels (POOL IS COOL), London (Thames Baths), Paris (Ilot Vert) and Boston (Charles River Conservancy) at the opening of the exhibition.  Before heading to a one-day symposium where we were all invited to share our efforts to open up river swimming in our respective cities, we swam in the Rhine River together, an incredible urban river that is open to its citizens for swimming in Basel!

On display through September 29, 2019, Swim City focuses on the phenomenon of river swimming in urban space. It highlights rivers throughout Switzerland that have been opened for swimming and urban swim projects in development around the globe, including + POOL. Swim City renders the experience of swimming in the river tangible, sheds light on its historical development and current manifestation, and also explains its relevance for creating cities worth living in.

The exhibition includes an immersive film installation by Zurich-based film director Jürg Egli that makes it possible to experience river swimming from the perspective of the swimmer.  Maps, images, and objects help tell the story of river swimming throughout Switzerland and projects in the development around the world including London, Brussels, Paris, Berlin, Boston and NYC.  Check out images from the exhibition below (Images courtesy Tom Bisig)!

Exhibitions are an incredible way for us to share our idea that the rivers are for all of us to enjoy and that river swimming will not just improve the quality of life for New Yorkers, but will contribute economically, environmentally and culturally to the place we call home. Huge thanks to S AM Basel for including us in this exhibition!