JOURNAL ARTICLE

Dumpster Diving: Aquatic Leisure, DIY Aesthetics, and Performance of Public Space in Macro Sea's Mobile Pools.

  • Published In: Space & Culture, 2024, v. 27, n. 4. P. 428 1 of 3

  • Database: Sociology Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Jahanmir, Yasmine Marie 3 of 3

Abstract

The article examines the 2010 installation of three mobile swimming pools made from dumpsters on Park Avenue in New York City as part of the Department of Transportation's Summer Streets initiative, which aimed to promote public space and sustainable urban recreation. Designed by architectural firm Macro Sea, these "Mobile Pools" embodied a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) aesthetic linked to environmental sustainability and countercultural values but ultimately functioned more as exclusive, performative symbols of private leisure rather than genuinely accessible public amenities. The pools' limited capacity, water usage, and association with privileged participants reflected broader historical and socio-spatial inequalities in urban pool culture, where public aquatic spaces have often been racially and economically segregated. While the intervention contributed to ongoing conversations about urban renewal and public space, its impact on addressing community needs and fostering inclusive social change was ambivalent.

Additional Information

  • Source:Space & Culture. 2024/11, Vol. 27, Issue 4, p428
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Sports and Leisure
  • Publication Date:2024
  • ISSN:1206-3312
  • DOI:10.1177/12063312221092620
  • Accession Number:180522557
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