Alfredo Barsuglia's latest work, "Social Pool," is located in an undisclosed location in the middle of the Mojave Desert. Visitors only receive keys and GPS coordinates as their directions on the day of their reservation.
Austrian artist Alfredo Barsuglia built an eleven-by-five-feet pool, and placed it in an undisclosed location in the Mojave Desert, only accessible through GPS coordinates and a key provided by the MAK Center of Art and Architecture in West Hollywood. Called Social Pool, the pool seats two people and features an automatic, solar-panel operated filter and chlorine system.
According to Stephanie Weber, Assistant Curator at the MoMA, Barsuglia's work reminds us of Land-Art installations throughout the American West landscapes from the 1970s, commenting in part on the rampant destruction of our ecological systems. Barsuglia's piece also speaks to our consumption and entertainment driven lifestyle, where a journey of 2.5 hours by car via GPS assistance to get to a random pool is not viewed as an inconvenience, but rather a worthwhile and relaxing pursuit.
The pool opened for the public on April 1st, and will be available until September 30th. Reservations are now completely full, but in case one opens up, RSVP here.
Read the full story: Does the Mojave desert need an artist-built swimming pool? Maybe
Salt Lake City opens protected bike path on viaduct trail
The 400 South Viaduct Trail features the state's longest continuous piece of public art.
This Seattle sidewalk art only appears when it rains
Prompted to find a silver lining to the gloom of rainy Pacific Northwest days, an artist hit upon a novel solution: water-activated sidewalk paint.
How Placemaking Lost its Way — And How it Can Get Back on Track
The term has often become diluted, getting attached to projects that don’t live up to its lofty aspirations.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment
The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.
One of Denver’s busiest corridors to gain BRT
The project will span 18 miles and contain 74 bus rapid transit stations.
275,000 bus trips are at stake on Seattle's ballot
If passed, the Seattle Transit Measure would trigger a 0.3% sales tax and raise an average of $138 million per year to maintain and expand Seattle’s bus services.
Texas may pay Israeli company billions to ease water woes
Texas awarded IDE Technologies the contract for its Harbor Island project, which is slated to become the Western Hemisphere's largest desalination plant.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority