Virtual Reality

Swimarium: The virtual reality swimming pool

Swimarium: The virtual reality swimming pool
OVA Studio's Swimarium is a swimming pool surround by LED screen on which footage from dive sites around the world can be shown
OVA Studio's Swimarium is a swimming pool surround by LED screen on which footage from dive sites around the world can be shown
View 27 Images
OVA Studio's Swimarium is a swimming pool surround by LED screen on which footage from dive sites around the world can be shown
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OVA Studio's Swimarium is a swimming pool surround by LED screen on which footage from dive sites around the world can be shown
The Swimarium concept has LED screens all around the pool to create an immersive swimming experience
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The Swimarium concept has LED screens all around the pool to create an immersive swimming experience
The Swimarium is shaped like a truncated icosahedron
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The Swimarium is shaped like a truncated icosahedron
The dome has solar panels on its roof
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The dome has solar panels on its roof
The concept was designed after OVA was asked by South China Morning Post to design a swimming pool that was "out of this world"
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The concept was designed after OVA was asked by South China Morning Post to design a swimming pool that was "out of this world"
A sunken area would look into the pool meaning users would not have to be in the pool to experience the environment
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A sunken area would look into the pool meaning users would not have to be in the pool to experience the environment
OVA is looking for interest from venues such as entertainment parks, swimming pools and diving schools
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OVA is looking for interest from venues such as entertainment parks, swimming pools and diving schools
OVA says pre-recorded video could be sohwn on the LED screens of live video feeds from dive sites around the world
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OVA says pre-recorded video could be sohwn on the LED screens of live video feeds from dive sites around the world
The internal ceiling of the dome would also be used to show content
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The internal ceiling of the dome would also be used to show content
OVA suggests that other environments such as space could be shown on the LED screens
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OVA suggests that other environments such as space could be shown on the LED screens
The pool concept is 25 m (82 ft) in diameter
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The pool concept is 25 m (82 ft) in diameter
OVA says that the the experience could be made more immersive by using 3D content
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OVA says that the the experience could be made more immersive by using 3D content
In order to make the experience 3D, special 3D goggles would have to be developed
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In order to make the experience 3D, special 3D goggles would have to be developed
OVA director Slimane Ouahes says adding a 3D element would "enhance the feeling of being immersed in the underwater environment for real"
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OVA director Slimane Ouahes says adding a 3D element would "enhance the feeling of being immersed in the underwater environment for real"
Content shown on the screens could be easily changed
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Content shown on the screens could be easily changed
A view of the Swimarium basement floor plan
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A view of the Swimarium basement floor plan
A view of the Swimarium ground floor plan
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A view of the Swimarium ground floor plan
A top view of the Swimarium plan
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A top view of the Swimarium plan
A profile view of the Swimarium plan
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A profile view of the Swimarium plan
A front-side view of the Swimarium plan
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A front-side view of the Swimarium plan
A top-side view of the Swimarium plan
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A top-side view of the Swimarium plan
A top-side view of the Swimarium plan with external features
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A top-side view of the Swimarium plan with external features
A top-side view of the Swimarium plan with external features and the dome
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A top-side view of the Swimarium plan with external features and the dome
A top-side view of the Swimarium plan with external features and the dome
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A top-side view of the Swimarium plan with external features and the dome
A front-side view of the Swimarium plan and the entrance
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A front-side view of the Swimarium plan and the entrance
A front-side view of the Swimarium plan and the entrance
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A front-side view of the Swimarium plan and the entrance
A reverse top-side view of the Swimarium plan
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A reverse top-side view of the Swimarium plan
View gallery - 27 images

If you've ever fancied scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef but can't afford it, this idea from OVA Studio might provide a solution. The Swimarium is a design concept in which LED screens are placed all around a pool to create an immersive virtual swimming experience that would let you dive anywhere in the world.

"It is a design concept that we developed from scratch when we were asked by South China Morning Post to design a swimming pool 'out of this world' to be featured in their magazine," explains OVA director Slimane Ouahes. "Instead of designing one more infinity-pool, we tried to explore uncharted waters involving technology and changing forever the swimming experience."

The Swimarium concept has LED screens all around the pool to create an immersive swimming experience
The Swimarium concept has LED screens all around the pool to create an immersive swimming experience

The Swimarium would have each of its sides, its bottom and a ceiling dome all formed of glass with LED screens behind. The screens would be used to show panoramic content from dive sites around the world to give pool users the sense of being there. Video shown could be pre-recorded or, with the right technology, could show live feeds from the chosen sites.

Ouahes says that the the experience could be made more immersive by using 3D content, though he concedes that some development work would have to go into producing 3D swimming goggles, but says that such a feature would "enhance the feeling of being immersed in the underwater environment for real."

OVA says pre-recorded video could be sohwn on the LED screens of live video feeds from dive sites around the world
OVA says pre-recorded video could be sohwn on the LED screens of live video feeds from dive sites around the world

OVA suggests that the Swimarium could also be used to show other types of environments, rather than just ocean scenes. One example given is video footage taken from orbiting space-craft or satellites. Users could be given the sense of floating through space at zero gravity.

The proposed Swimarium design uses a truncated icosahedron shape, which the firm says gives it an organic feel. The pool is 25 m (82 ft) in diameter and a bar is built into one of the sides so that users can view the content and get a feel for the environment without being in the pool. The dome, meanwhile, is roofed with solar panels that OVA says could provide almost enough energy to power the Swimarium.

In order to make the experience 3D, special 3D goggles would have to be developed
In order to make the experience 3D, special 3D goggles would have to be developed

At present, the Swimarium is only a concept, but Ouahes says OVA is looking for interest from venues such as entertainment parks, swimming pools and diving schools.

Source: OVA Studio

View gallery - 27 images
4 comments
4 comments
Nairda
I know it's kind of a sad sign of things to come. Like hologram forests and smelovision for fields of flowers that once were.
But the nerd in me is seeing the positive straight up. And the first port of call is a floating through the milky way sim, followed by maybe a flying through the mountain ranges theme
BigGoofyGuy
I think that is really cool. I hope they make it and have it where people can use it for events.
Stephen N Russell
Venues for Hotels Resorts Theme parks ( SeaWorld FL & CA alone) Univ IE Univ of HI Malls. PADI Hqs Aquariums worldwide Marine museums
Awesome
Jay Finke
Wow is that ugly, and like there isn't enough stuff to go wrong with a pool.