Audio Described Tour: Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style

Explore a new exhibition celebrating our century-long love affair with swimming and the influence of design on everything from swimwear to art deco architecture.

Across three in-depth sections that reflect the three locations in which we swim — the pool, the lido and nature — the exhibition dives into design’s role in shaping our relationship with swimming, both in the water and beside it.

The exhibition’s story begins in the 1920s, when swimwear began to be marketed for swimming rather than the Victorian’s preference for bathing, and when beach holidays exploded in popularity. It explores swimming’s role in modern life, right up to the present day, such as how it influences and subverts our ideas of body autonomy and agency, as well as its link to environmental issues.

This group tour will explore highlights of the exhibition with the aim to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of full spectrum of the design of swimming — from sports performance and fashion, to architecture.

Background image: Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style exhibition. The Seagull and the Windbreak © ABIR Architects Photo courtesy of Richard Rowland.