Sea Pools winner in the Architectural Book Awards 2024

We’re delighted that Sea Pools by Chris Romer-Lee is a winner in the Architectural Book Awards 2024.

Featuring 66 saltwater sanctuaries from around the world, Sea Pools was declared joint winner in the Monograph Category in the Architectural Book Awards. The awards were announced at an event at Maggie’s Barts this week, where shortlisted authors and publishers got together to celebrate. The Architectural Book Awards is now in its second year running and is organised by Booklaunch magazine.

The judges said: ‘As judges, we thought we know the range of books we would be assessing this year, but Chris Romer Lee’s took us by surprise. We were delighted by the geographical ambition of the author’s book and by the sufficiency of his research’

Read the full write-up about Sea Pools and explore the other winners in the new edition of Booklaunch Magazine.

In addition to Sea Pools, the following books from Batsford and Scala Arts & Heritage Publishers were shortlisted in the awards:

100 20th-Century Shops by Twentieth Century Society in the Travelogue category.

Brutalist Britain by Elain Harwood in the Monograph category.

Cathedral Treasures of England and Wales by Janet Gough in the Monograph category.

Handel Hendrix House by David Souden in the Travelogue category.

Station by Christopher Beanland in the Monograph category.

Sydney Opera House by Peter Gibson and Sam Doust in the Travelogue category.

More about Sea Pools

A celebration of sea swimming – looking at the architecture, history and social significance of sea pools around the world.

The sea can be challenging and changeable. Protected from the dangers of currents, crashing waves and extreme cold, sea pools (also known as tidal or ocean pools) are manmade pools that provide a safe space for swimmers to enjoy the benefits of the sea at all states of the tide and weather.

Sea Pools begins with an introduction to sea pools within the history of outdoor swimming, their unique designs and architectural significance and commentary on the resurgent appreciation for sea swimming in the 21st century. Chris Romer-Lee selects 66 of the most beautiful and culturally significant sea pools from around the world, including the 25-metre cliffside Avalon Rock Pool in new South Wales, Australia, the sublime Pozo de las Calcosas in Spain that is shrouded in volcanic rock, and Ireland’s historic Vico Baths to name but a few.

Sea Pools also includes four insightful essays: Nicola Larkin looks to the next generation of ocean pools in her exploration of how we can conserve, protect and regenerate the coastline; Therese Spruhan testifies to the healing and transformative benefits of ocean swimming; Freya Bromley discusses her odyssey to swim in every sea pool in Britain; and Kevin Fellingham reflects on the importance of sea pools in South Africa.

The book is illustrated throughout with beautiful colour photography, as well as fascinating archive material to give an insight into the provenance of these vital sanctuaries.

Sea Pools: 66 saltwater sanctuaries from around the world by Chris Romer-Lee is available from our web shop and from other good booksellers.