Paris, France — It is one of the most mythical swimming pools in Paris, the Molitor. We had a swim club there one night a week. It was one of the first places to adopt lanes and lap swimming. The Molitor is still there ensconced in a palatial hotel of the same name and surrounded by a second pool and fitness center. The Parisian Art Deco landmark, where Johnny Weissmuller did a one-year stint as a lifeguard after winning his three gold medal at the last time the Summer Olympics were held in Paris (1924) and two more in Amsterdam in 1928, is currently welcoming a lively and refreshing photo exhibition revolving around this pool and other Parisian pools. Scottish photographer Soo Burnell has returned with a new chapter in her highly successful series, Poolside.

This show, Into the Blue, presents five magnificent Parisian pools. The Molitor, of course, the Butte-aux-Cailles which is fed by local underground source waters, the very geometrical Bagneux pool in the Parisian suburb of the same name and the wonderful natural lighting of the George Hermant pool, an Olympic pool with a roof terrace in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, are all on the agenda along with the renaissance of the Amiraux pool in the 18th arrondissement with its beautiful surrounding locker rooms rising up in terraces.

« I wanted to create a collection of Parisian pools similar to the series I did in my home town, Edinburgh in Scotland. There are similarities in the architecture of many of these swimming pools, but I also noticed a similarity in the community feeling that these pools bring about, » explains Soo Burnell. The show is on until January 7th. 13 rue Nungesser et Coli, 75016 Paris, France. https://www.molitorparis.com/fr/

Special to The Gourmet Gazette