Swimmers dive into ‘living water’ at this natural swimming pool in Edmonton, which is the first of its kind in Canada.

Toronto architects gh3* designed the chlorine-free pool, which is located in Edmonton’s Borden Park. The water stays clean thanks to a mix of natural filtration – using stone, gravel and sand – and an ecosystem made up of plants and microorganisms.

Unconventional materials have been used for the swimming pool’s enclosure and changing rooms, including dark limestone and steel. The building has been kept purposefully low, to allow the park’s trees to remain visible overhead.

A row of outdoor showers resemble metal pipes that have sprung out of the ground, and rails leading into the pool are equally minimal. After a few lengths, swimmers can take a stroll along the pool’s sandy ‘beach’, or enjoy a snack at one of Borden Park Natural Swimming Pool’s picnic areas.

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