Ricerc@Sapienza

Initially considered a ‘luxury’ good and now becoming a more popular and diffused landmark,
the spatial distribution of residential swimming pools reflects the socio-spatial structure
in Mediterranean cities, offering a kaleidoscopic overview of class segregation and
economic disparities. The present study hypothesizes that economic downturns, resulting
in alternative phases of social polarization and mixing, affect the spatial distribution of
pools. To verify this assumption, the spatial distribution of pools in Athens, Greece—a city
with evident social disparities and largely affected by the great recession—was analysed
during the most recent expansion and recession. Results shed light on the spatial linkage
between pool density, class segregation and dispersed urban expansion in a context of rising
income disparities. The spatial distribution of swimming pools became increasingly
polarized in the Athens’ metropolitan region. The spread of residential pools in wealthier
districts suggests how recession has consolidated disparities between rich and poor neighbourhoods.
Based on the empirical findings of this study, pools can be considered a proxy
of increased socio-spatial disparities reflecting class segregation and economic polarization
at the local scale.