DUISPOOL

DUISPOOL

Temporary public space

DUISPOOL is an Experimental architectural project aimed at creating a temporary public swimming facility in the city of Duisburg, active during the summer of 2025 in the Innerhafen basin.
Conceived by the Rome-based architecture studio Orizzontale, in collaboration with TRANSURBAN and with the support of the City of Duisburg, the project is part of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games and the urban art program City of Play.

DUISPOOL is inspired by the cultural movement of Swimmable Cities, which promotes the transformation of urban spaces through the rehabilitation of natural or artificial waterways, or through the temporary installation of infrastructure that makes them safer and more accessible for swimming and other recreational activities. This approach supports public health, urban regeneration, and the creation of new economic and social opportunities.

DUISPOOL was created in response to a shared desire among the citizens of Duisburg: to experience the Innerhafen basin as an integral part of the urban space, both for leisure and for sports activities.

The project was carried out during a three-week residency, as a collective experience of construction and cohabitation between Orizzontale and TRANSURBAN. A wooden platform with stepped seating down to the water level allows direct access to swimming. The structure is built on top of a pre-existing concrete base, a remnant of Innerhafen’s industrial archaeology. The swimming area, 25 meters wide and approximately 80 meters long, is marked off by safety buoys and enhanced by the presence of floating islands.

On weekends throughout the summer of 2025, DUISPOOL will be open for public swimming, with professional lifeguards on duty to ensure visitor safety.

DUISPOOL is a temporary, dismantlable, and reconfigurable installation that aims to spark reflection on the long-term potential of the site.