We spoke to architect Barbara Buser about river swimming as an urban phenomenon and asked her why Germany is having such a hard time with its river baths.

The Swim City exhibition, which is on show at the DAZ until 2.8.20, focuses on the phenomenon of urban swimming. Barbara Buser from the in situ construction office based in Basel, Zurich and Liestal co-curated the Swim City exhibition. We spoke to the architect about river swimming as an urban phenomenon and asked her why people in Germany – think of the initiatives in Berlin or Munich – have such a hard time with their river pools.

In Switzerland, river swimming in urban areas is quite normal. Anyone who swims in the cool Aare in summer temperatures and is rewarded with a view of the sunlit Bundeshaus in Bern will not be content with urban open-air pools any time soon.

Cities such as Bern, Basel and Zurich are pioneers when it comes to urban swimming. They have opened up their rivers and their banks to the public, making them an integral part of their residents’ everyday lives. They no longer want to miss out on the urban quality of life that the Aare, Rhine and Limmat provide – swimming in the river is part of the self-image of their cities.

For this reason, the Swiss Architecture Museum S AM has dedicated an exhibition to the phenomenon of river swimming. Curated by Barbara Buser, Andreas Ruby and Yuma Shinohara, it presents current examples of urban swimming that aim to transform rivers into swimming or recreational spaces.

In addition to Swiss projects, the Flussbad Berlin in the city center, for example, aims to make part of the Spree river swimmable again. The DAZ also presents international river pool projects that are reclaiming water for the city: Ilot Vert / Paris, POOL IS COOL / Brussels, Thames Baths. The exhibition will be on display at the DAZ until August 2, 2020.

Interview with Barbara Buser

In 2017, Munich-based urban activist Benjamin David was celebrated nationwide in the media for his way to work. He swims. Unusual for Germans, commonplace for the Swiss. In Basel summers, even people in suits are transported to work by the Rhine. Barbara Buser, what significance does water have for the quality of life in a city?

Water is an important element in every city, be it in the form of fountains, near the lake or sea, streams or rivers. Water defines the possible development, often even the shape of a city. At the water’s edge, you can experience the seasons intensively, take a walk by the water, relax or do sport. In Basel, the Rhine is the largest contiguous urban space. It’s great to drift through the city on the river and experience it from an unusual perspective.

Interface between land and water

You co-curated the “Swim City” exhibition. What was the aim of the exhibition?

The aim of the exhibition was to awaken the desire of city dwellers to reclaim and use urban waters. We wanted to point out to the people of Basel, Bern, Geneva and Zurich how lucky they are to be able to swim in the river through the middle of the city. But it was also about supporting the various national and international initiatives in Berlin, Paris and New York City and encouraging them to continue fighting for the right to swim in the river.

What insights have you gained from Swim City for your own work as an architect?

I have once again realized how formative water is for a city, how important the interfaces between land and water are, and that these must be designed with the utmost care.

Political tasks and poor water quality

River swimming is almost unthinkable in major German cities. The laborious discussions about river baths in Berlin and Munich are a good example of this. What do you think is the problem?

Three points. Firstly, that people don’t trust citizens to take responsibility: it’s easier to ban swimming than to draw up rules and take responsibility. Secondly, that the waterway laws need to be adapted – an arduous political task. And thirdly, the water quality – which is often inadequate after heavy rainfall in Berlin or Paris, for example.

Nevertheless, a number of river projects are underway across Europe. Which ones are you particularly looking forward to?

Any project that manages to make river swimming a natural part of everyday life (again). I always have my bathing suit with me when I travel so that I can take advantage of every opportunity to swim.

If you are interested in this topic: Garten + Landschaft 06/20 on the topic of water in the city, a detailed article appeared on the Swim City exhibition, which identifies river swimming as an urban phenomenon in Switzerland.

Barbara Buser is a qualified architect ETH and energy specialist. In 1992, she was the first woman to take the Rhine ferry captain’s exam in Basel and has regularly steered the Münster ferry across the Rhine and back ever since. Since October 2014, she and a dedicated team have been bringing new life to the Markthalle and KLARA in Basel under the motto “eat, drink, enjoy”. She has been involved in various projects in Berlin with “die Zusammenarbeiter” for years. She has also been a member of the Flussbad Berlin association since it was founded.

This year’s 2017 ETICS Architects’ and Specialist Contractors’ Day will focus on the topics of algae and fungi, contracts, energy saving and ETICS.

This year’s 2017 ETICS Architects’ and Contractors’ Day will focus on the topics of algae and fungi, contracts, energy saving and ETICS.

In the area of algae and fungi, two presentations will deal with the preventive protection of facades and the question of whether algae and fungal infestation on facades always represent a defect.

Information on current court rulings from day-to-day practice with regard to the obligation to provide information and notification, the registration of concerns, supplementary agreements and the agreement of quality assurance through in-house and external monitoring of execution will be included in the topic of contracts. In addition, the new features of the IWM planning atlas (supplemented by the new fire protection requirements) are discussed as well as the possibility of using polyurethane insulation layers in ETICS.

Eight training points can be achieved with this event, both for architects (applied for at the chambers) and for experts from the trade.

More information at www.farbe.de