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The popularity and presence of urban bathhouses are on the rise, a trend driven by post-pandemic demand for healthy communal experiences among urban consumers. A mainstay of civilized societies for centuries the world over, public bathing facilities experienced sharp decline in the second half of the 20th century, but may once again play an important role in physical, mental and “social” wellness.
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As the world spins off the rails in a variety of unsettling directions, the need for comfort and tranquility has never been greater. Is this where the power of nature and aquatic environments comes the most into play? Has there never been a better time to seek refuse at the water’s edge? Eric Herman thinks so.
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Just few short months ago, a series of big storms raised hopes that the current drought gripping much of the western U.S. had been doused. Now, following a period of record-low precipitation, looming water shortages and restrictions are a near certainty.
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The benefits and importance of bather cleanliness are well established. From managing water quality to preventing the spread of waterborne diseases, showering stands as one of the frontline swimmer-health measures. As Paolo Benedetti points out here, showers also represent an opportunity to add value to the watershape environment with interesting designs, materials and by enhancing the experience of getting wet.
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As wild fires increase with frequency and intensity year after year, the idea of using swimming pool water to fight fires is gaining ground with many homeowners and general contractors. This simple detail enables firefighters to quickly access water that would otherwise be unavailable when it could be needed most.
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This beautiful project nestled on the Connecticut shores of the Long Island Sound required a careful balance of robust construction and design, and careful adherence to environmental codes protecting the adjacent oceanic rock formations and biologically sensitive tide pools. It was a steep challenge, explains Bill Drakeley, but he and his company welcomed the opportunity.
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When the city of Long Beach, Calif. sought to revitalize its harbor-front and downtown, civic leaders turned to the water in the form of a world-class ocean aquarium as a centerpiece of a long-term development plan. Now more than two decades later, the Aquarium of the Pacific is a popular attraction that, indeed, ushered in an era of civic reinvention.
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Drakeley Pool Co. takes on a broad range of projects, from massive commercial installations to super high-end residential projects. The company also refurbishes historic watershapes, a discipline that requires careful adherence to the original design. Featured here, Bill Drakeley shares a simple gem of a project designed by 20th Century modernist master, Marcel Breuer.
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To the ancient civilizations of the Yucatan Peninsula, bodies of water known as cenotes were both essential in daily life and worshiped as the watery portals to the netherworld. Today, these remarkable natural bodies of sub-surface water remain objects of enchantment, and great places to take a dip.
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