A miniature retail kiosk in London and designed in 2016 emanates the beloved features of a public pool: smooth, white tiles and the nostalgia of a pink pool ladder hooked on the edge.
“Inspired by the tiled landscapes of public pools and dreaming of drifting icebergs, we designed a durable mobile structure that unfolds and extends to become a retail stand selling sun cream and other poolside accessories to the public,” How About Studio founder and architect Nick Wood shares in a statement to Dezeen.
The mobile shop is just a small piece of the larger picture, however. On the upper terrace of London’s Southbank Centre, a complex of artistic venues, it rests alongside another water-centered architectural marvel. The aptly named Appearing Rooms Fountain, designed by Jeppe Hein, is accentuated by the mobile shop and makes the design stand out.
“We were invited by Southbank Centre to create an art installation and mobile retail structure that responded to the delightful transformation by Hein’s fountain into one of play, water and public enjoyment,” says Wood.
The canopy opens and closes to provide shade (“like a pair of wings,” according to the architects) and a storage drawer provides space for the shop to be fully functional. Mirrored gold details create watery reflections. Set up on wheels, the shop is as mobile as it can get.
One of the most Aristotelian theories suggests that art imitates reality. The architects feed into this age-old theory, referencing a second artist that inspired their work. The aesthetics of the mobile shop itself emulate the features of “A Bigger Splash,” a 1967 painting by the world- renowned English painter David Hockney.
The color scheme of blues, whites and pinks, as well as clean edges around the project, mark clear similarities between the structure and the painting. Perhaps it makes the mobile shop something of an ode to the painting, while also asserting itself as its own masterpiece.
In a bold statement of individuality and homage to previous works, the Mobile Shop no doubt makes its mark on the Southbank Centre and the world of pool design.
This article first appeared in the March 2025 issue of AQUA Magazine — the top resource for retailers, builders and service pros in the pool and spa industry. Subscriptions to the print magazine are free to all industry professionals. Click here to subscribe.
