Sydney’s Rock Pools Are Under ThreatSydney’s Rock Pools Are Under Threat
As a city on the sea, Sydney is full of swimming venues. Some are tame municipal pools, some are roped-off harbor beaches, and others are wild rock pools carved into the shores of the suburbs. Pick a random subway stop, and there’s likely to be one of these pools within walking distance. On a warm summer day, they’re full of easy-going locals drifting around and university girls in bikinis doing a few laps.
But what happens when they’re under threat? Rising sea levels due to climate change are a looming problem for ocean pools. Many of these rock-built pools are flushed by the swells and need to be raised in order to keep up. That’s not a simple undertaking. It means raising the walls of the pool, removing their current functions and changing how they are maintained. It also changes the way these pools interact with the surrounding environment and can be a major challenge for architects.
To address this issue, architects have come up with innovative solutions. They’re using a technique known as bio-mimicry to try and mimic nature. In this approach, they’re trying to design structures that will be resilient and adapted to their environments. In some cases, this involves incorporating natural materials like sand and gravel to help stabilize the pools. Other times, it involves building in wetlands that can serve as filters and help with erosion control.
These designs can make a big difference, especially in cities with aging infrastructure. In New York, for example, the city is working to revitalize its deteriorating harbor pools. The latest project is a floating pool on the Glebe foreshore, designed by Andrew Burges Architects. It’s a bold intervention that is in some ways a replacement for a similar plan in 2016 that was scrapped over concerns about the cost and environmental impacts of the proposed installation.
But not all swimmers are happy with these designs. Some are concerned that these pools will be less accessible to the general public as they become more regulated and maintained. Others are worried that these pools will be eroded by rising sea levels. In some cases, the sea is already eating away at the cliffs that hold the pools in place. It’s a problem that has global implications.