Public Lecture Pool is Cool
A public lecture by Paul Steinbrück from the Brussels based initiative Pool is Cool as part of our upcoming studio Harbours are for Swimming. taking place on Friday 03 July, 19:00 - 21:00. Tickets available for 5 euro here
Tickets are available le for 5 euro
Pool is Cool
On Friday the 3rd of July we will be hosting a public lecture by Paul Steinbrück from the Brussels based initiative POOL IS COOL as part of our upcoming studio Harbours are for Swimming.
Paul is one of the initiators of POOL IS COOL to campaign for the reintroduction of outdoor swimming in Brussels through actions, projects, research and debate. Founded in 2016, with the mission to give all Brusseleirs the opportunity to enjoy outdoor swimming as a sport and social activity in a natural way, this non-profit organisation is a platform of citizens who use their expertise to address the complex challenges of outdoor swimming in the European capital.
Amongst their initiatives was Flow - the creation of Brussels’ first public outdoor swimming pool in over 40 years, in collaboration with Decoratelier Jozef Wouters. Located on a derelict industrial site in Anderlecht the temporary pool was made out of modular grandstands made from reused materials. Local youth participated in the construction, creating a venue for various outdoor activities and community engagement. By fostering social cohesion and connecting urban dwellers with nature, FLOW showcases the positive impact of outdoor swimming and serves as a prototype for future long-term projects.
Programme 03 July 2026
18:30 - 19:00 Doors open
19:00 - 21:00 Lecture by Paul Steinbruck and conversation with initiatives from Rotterdam and Amsterdam
21:00 Drinks and aftertalk
About Paul Steinbrück
Paul Steinbrück (born 1980) is a German architect based in Brussels. He studied in Germany and Finland and worked with Sauerbruch Hutton in Berlin and 51N4E in Brussels, alongside smaller independent projects, before turning his focus to self-initiated activist work with Pool is Cool, an NGO advocating for outdoor swimming, and its consultancy and design offshoot How to Swim. His work explores the role of the architect as activist, combining hands-on design and building, research, and public debate, with a particular focus on societal questions around sustainability and ecology, inclusiveness and power. in his teaching and research activities he explores how these issues can inform design in relation with and of public space, encouraging critical reflection on the social impact of architecture and the ways spatial interventions shape urban life and community relations.