An Edinburgh-born artist has created a concept design for Portobello's legendary open-air pool, showing what it would look like if it had remained open to present day.
Artist Michael Lennie, who has since moved to warmer climes in Australia, has created prints of the Portobello Pool, stating that he visited the pool many times as a child.
The open-air pool in Edinburgh first opened its doors on May 30, 1936 - at a cost of £90,000. In its first season, it attracted thousands of excited locals ready to enjoy the summer with some splashing good fun.
Most popular in the 1950s and 60s, locals and holiday makers flocked to enjoy the famous heated pool and Scotland’s first electric wave generator.
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The nearby coal power station provided filtered sea water heated to 20 degrees, allowing the pool to open from May to September.
Contemporary accounts attest the water was icy cold. Mimicking sea-breakers the artificial wave machine generated waves up to one metre every half hour.
Safety ropes were installed to aid non-swimmers swept off their feet when the waves reached the shallow end.
However, by the late 1970s the pool's popularity was on the slide, due to weather and the invention of cheap package holidays meaning that people could travel to hotter countries for less.
The 1979 season turned out to be the last and demolition was approved in 1988. This didn't stop local artist Michael Lennie from imagining up what the pool would look like in modern day.
The architectural illustrator built a 3D model from researching construction drawings and historical photographs to render a series of views of the Portobello Pool and Pavilion.
The fresh and modern looking pool includes a diving board with three heights to choose from, and a Greek-style centre for changing and various other leisurely activities.
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In lettering under the beautiful clock face, the words 'Bathers', 'Snacks' and 'Bar' all appear - to illustrate that the newly-created Portobello Pool centre would host all of these wonderful things within.
Also included in the design are two sleek slides, perfect for kids who want to feel the exhiliration of hitting the water without the fear of the diving board worrying their parents.
These amazing designs are available as prints on Michael's website, alongside his other intricate work.
You can check those out here on Michael's website, where he not only showcases classic illustration but modern animation as well.
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