Spacesmith in collaboration with Davis Brody Bond were enlisted by the Brooklyn Bridge Park for the design of their Pop-up Pool. Rising off of the greenway on the uplands of Pier 2 at the Park, the 30’ x 50’ pool is accompanied by a 2,500 sf sandy beach area supplied with lounge chairs and colorful umbrellas. An adjacent concrete plaza contains picnic tables, more umbrellas and a food and drink concession stand. Amenities such as showers, restrooms and lockers are also provided.
The design utilizes repurposed stacked shipping containers painted in eye catching colors to act as a buffer from the noise of the nearby roadways and to provide storage. The site is planted with saw-grass to enhance the beach mood and the plaza is decorated with bright graphics to further enliven the facility.
Given that the pool was developed as a temporary amenity for five years, it was necessary to limit the scope of construction and to use as many of the existing features as possible. To that end, foundations and slabs from previously demolished buildings were incorporated into the design and the pool and beach area were raised to avoid any excavation.
