Extraordinary Pools
by Naina Gupta
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Pub Date May 13 2025 | Archive Date May 12 2025
Chronicle Books | Princeton Architectural Press
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Description
Extraordinary Pools is a mosaic of exceptional public and private examples of pools, reasserting the protean quality of the swimming pool as a space of activity, pleasure, and excess. Illustrated with awe-inspiring color photography, it showcases stunning examples of architecturally significant swimming pools around the world, including:
- Berthold Lubetkin’s modernist Penguin Pool at the London Zoo
- The world’s largest infinity pool at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore
- The landmark Julia Morgan-designed City Club pool in Berkeley, California
- Luis Barragan's signature L-shaped pools at Cuadra San Cristobal in Mexico
- And many more
Woven throughout are essays by swimmers and architectural experts on the role swimming pools have played in shaping modern culture, from the 1932 Olympics and Mussolini’s campaign to redefine the new Italian Fascist as physically fit, disciplined, and virile to the dawn of circular backyard pools in California that became playgrounds for skateboarders during the great drought of the 1970s. With its lush imagery and lively discussion, Extraordinary Pools will dazzle recreationists and architecture enthusiasts alike.
STUNNING PHOTOGRAPHY: Illustrated with full-color images throughout, Extraordinary Pools is an aspirational, covetable volume befitting any design lover's coffee table display.
ENDLESSLY FASCINATING: Swimming pools are status symbols and objects of interest regardless of climate or season. Whether they are used for athletic pursuits or the simple joy of relaxing in water, found indoors or out, are kidney-shaped or Olympic-sized, pools are an enthralling source of visual and aesthetic pleasure.
EXPERIENCED AUTHOR: Naina Gupta, a practicing architect who teaches at the Architectural Association of the School of Architecture in London, turns her trained eye on a dazzling array of pools to explore their visual impact and cultural significance.
Perfect for:
- Swimmers, beach lovers, and pool enthusiasts
- Collectors of architecture, design, and home décor books
- Host/hostess or housewarming gift
- Architectural history buffs
- Photography fans and armchair travelers
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781797231297 |
| PRICE | $29.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 208 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Reviewer 1049508
I'm not particularly big on swimming, but I saw this book and my curiosity was immediately piqued. Not only are the photos fantastic, but there are bits of history folded into the overall descriptions of the pools--I especially liked that they included a section on skateboarding and the relationship with empty pools! I for one will be making a list of the pools I'd someday like to see in person.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Kaye C, Librarian
Extraordinary Pools is as the title implies all about unique or unusual pools. I am not sure what the criteria was for choosing different pools but there are various pools both private and public. Some have been used for international Olympics, others for modern hotels. I love that one is used by penguins in the London Zoo. I think this leans more to architectural interests than coffee table books, as there is good information about the background and significance of pools that are included. Most of the pools are in Europe and North America but there is representation for other continents.
As a traveler I’ve only seen the pool in the zoo but recognized a couple others from movies. I did like the locations were included in the back if someone wanted to visit the pools in person. While I personally wouldn’t need to own the book I would gladly check it out from a library. I thought the book overall was informative and the photos beautiful. This is one of those books that if you are interested in the topic you’ll probably enjoy it.
Jessica S, Reviewer
*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: May 13, 2025
Honestly picked this up only expecting some pretty photos. It delivered beautiful photography as well as in depth history and stories behind swimming and pools in general as well as the individual pools featured. A gorgeous book just waiting for your coffee table!
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