Schwimmverein Donaukanal, Swim Parade; Foto — Christopher Mavrič
Beneath the Pavement, The Beach
A Rising Wave of Urban River SwimmingDuring the Paris uprisings of 1968, the slogan »Sous les pavés, la plage« (»Beneath the pavement, the beach«) emerged as a rallying cry to reclaim public space from the profit-driven control imposed from above. It symbolized a desire for freedom, human connection, and playful interaction – values embodied by the beach. The call urged to uncover the untapped potential of cities, hidden beneath the rigid structures of modern urban life.
Today, in the midst of the climate crisis, this metaphor takes on a new meaning – quite literally. As temperatures rise, there is a pressing need to reimagine urban spaces in ways that can alleviate the impacts of heat. »Blue spaces« – akin to green spaces – are emerging as key areas in the fight against urban heat islands, offering not only cooling but also spaces for recreation and community. Cities like Zurich and Basel have led the way, inspiring initiatives across Europe to transform inner-city rivers into accessible, swimmable spaces that offer both physical relief and a renewed sense of freedom.
The Swimmable Cities alliance, founded in 2024, takes this vision further. Through the joint effort to reconnect citizens with waterways, the alliance is committed to a future where swimmable rivers are integral to everyday urban life. Yet many initiatives still face challenges in overcoming regulatory and infrastructural barriers. Christina Schraml (dérive) spoke with three members of the alliance – Tim Edler (Flussbad Berlin), Ana Mumladze Detering (Schwimmverein Donaukanal SVDK) and Chris Romer-Lee (Thames Baths) – about the movement’s political, social and ecological dimensions.
Christina Schraml lebt und arbeitet als Stadtforscherin in Wien.
The Flussbad Berlin is both an NGO (Flussbad Berlin e. V.) and a project to convert the Spree Canal in Berlin-Mitte. The canal is to be ecologically cleaned and used as a river bath. In recent times the initiative both broadened the vision (swimming in the entire river) and moved the technical approach putting more weight on intelligent water monitoring. The project, designed by the architects and artists group realities:united, has been funded since 2015 as a »national urban development project« by the federal government and by the Berlin Senate Department for Urban Development and the Environment. However, despite the tremendous progress no political decision for realization has been made so far.
www.flussbad.berlin, www.realu.de
Co-founded by Social Designer and sociologist Ana Mumladze Detering in 2020, Schwimmverein Donaukanal aims to revitalize the danube canal as a swimming spot in the heart of Vienna. The association promotes a new culture of river swimming, encouraging swimmers to take personal responsibility and act thoughtfully in managing the risks of this urban waterway. Schwimmverein Donaukanal is com- mitted to making the Donaukanal a vibrant and safe space for swimming while fostering a deeper connection between people and the river.
www.schwimmvereindonaukanal.org
Founded by Chris Romer-Lee of London architects Studio Octopi in 2013. Thames Baths offers a solution for the central stretch of the river where swimming will never be safe due to other activities. The Baths extract water from the river, filter and warm it to ensure a joyous experience for all dippers. With the support of Studio Octopi, Thames Baths is looking at sites in both east and west London. The organisation is also actively supporting the Mayor of London in his policy for swimmable waterways by 2034. www.thamesbaths.com