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Lido: A dip into outdoor swimming pools: the history, design and people behind them
A celebration of outdoor swimming – looking at the history, design and social aspect of pools.
Few experiences can beat diving into a pool in the fresh air, swimming with blue skies above you. Whether it's a dip into a busy and bustling city pool on a sweltering summer day, or taking the plunge in icy waters, the lido provides a place of peace in a frenetic world.
The book begins with a history of outdoor pools – their grand beginnings after the buttoned-up Victorian era, their falling popularity in the 20th century, and the newfound appreciation for the outdoor pool, or lido, and outdoor swimming in the 21st century.
Journalist and architectural historian Christopher Beanland picks the very best of the outdoor pools around the world, including the Icebergs Pool on Bondi Beach, Australia; the 137m seawater pool in Vancouver, Canada; Siza's concrete sea pools in Porto, Portugal; the restored art deco pool in Saltdean, UK, and the pool at the Zollverein Coal Mines in Essen, Germany. The book also features lost lidos and the fascinating history behind the architecture of the pools, along with essays on swimming pools in art, and the importance of pools in Australia. In addition there are interviews with pool users around the globe about why they swim. The book is illustrated throughout with beautiful colour photography, as well as archive photography and advertising.
Few experiences can beat diving into a pool in the fresh air, swimming with blue skies above you. Whether it's a dip into a busy and bustling city pool on a sweltering summer day, or taking the plunge in icy waters, the lido provides a place of peace in a frenetic world.
The book begins with a history of outdoor pools – their grand beginnings after the buttoned-up Victorian era, their falling popularity in the 20th century, and the newfound appreciation for the outdoor pool, or lido, and outdoor swimming in the 21st century.
Journalist and architectural historian Christopher Beanland picks the very best of the outdoor pools around the world, including the Icebergs Pool on Bondi Beach, Australia; the 137m seawater pool in Vancouver, Canada; Siza's concrete sea pools in Porto, Portugal; the restored art deco pool in Saltdean, UK, and the pool at the Zollverein Coal Mines in Essen, Germany. The book also features lost lidos and the fascinating history behind the architecture of the pools, along with essays on swimming pools in art, and the importance of pools in Australia. In addition there are interviews with pool users around the globe about why they swim. The book is illustrated throughout with beautiful colour photography, as well as archive photography and advertising.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 7, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 15, 2021
It's not often I read a coffee table book cover to cover but this one is delightful. Basic maybe but hopefully I'm allowed as I do actually tour de lidos. There's plenty of text including art reviews, interviews. Lots of swimming recommendations with some history but overall it is Wanderlust for pools near and far. Top Christmas present thanks Joss.
September 12, 2025
bruh most of this is photos …. cool (literally) but like I wanted info, stats, history, etc.
October 27, 2020
Lido is stunning. Fantastic pictures, great mini-histories/travelogue
January 3, 2022
Called “Pool” where I am from. Gorgeous photos and lovely descriptions of outdoor pools around the world. A calming read whilst also giving me itchy feet to get in the pool!
November 20, 2022
Stunning, detailed history of lidos in coffee table format. Beautiful.
June 14, 2020
With the pandemic having closed NYC public pools for the summer, this richly colorful book was a personal consolation.
The writing and interviews so tastefully distributed amidst full spreads of mouthwatering swimming pool footage goes well beyond the surface of a coffee table or art photo book, but gracefully leaves room for more exploration in the future...maybe of your own favorite swimming spaces and communities beyond UK and mostly Western countries!
Well worth the buy, and would please swimmers and non swimmers alike.
The writing and interviews so tastefully distributed amidst full spreads of mouthwatering swimming pool footage goes well beyond the surface of a coffee table or art photo book, but gracefully leaves room for more exploration in the future...maybe of your own favorite swimming spaces and communities beyond UK and mostly Western countries!
Well worth the buy, and would please swimmers and non swimmers alike.
November 1, 2020
I love swimming and this books is mostly glossy and gorgeous. However, the Australian section made me all grumpy and turning the pages quickly to see who the publisher was because the lighting and filter they used for Australian pools was all wrong. Green seas? Grey skies??? Errrrmmmmm.....No. I have been to just about every Australian pool they photographed in all types of weather and they really didn't capture the swimming vibe at all. The European/UK sections and all the others were lovely and interesting.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews