The Pool and the Stream Redux

This episode of 99% Invisible, hosted by Roman Mars and featuring Avery Truffleman, explores the fascinating journey of ideas and their unexpected connections, focusing on the evolution of skateboarding and the iconic kidney-shaped pool. The story traces the origins of modern skateboarding back to the 1970s California drought, which left numerous backyard pools empty and ripe for skating. It delves into the influence of Finnish architect Alvar Aalto's curvy designs on American landscape architect Thomas Church, whose Donnell Garden pool inspired countless others. The episode also highlights how this legacy continues to evolve, including a recent skatepark project in Columbus, Indiana, designed by Finnish architect Janne Saario, exemplifying the ongoing ripple effect of creative inspiration.

• The episode focuses on the journey of an idea from its inception to its impact on the world.
• The story is about the continuous unfolding of inspiration and how ideas evolve over time.
• The narrative includes updates on the original story, indicating its ongoing influence.

"It's about the process of ideas and how they move through the world."

• The episode explores how ideas originate and transform as they travel through different contexts and environments.

"It's an episode that I did in 2017 that has become very near and dear to me because of what it's about, because it's about where ideas come from."

• The story is personal and significant to the narrator, reflecting on the origins and development of ideas.

"The sequence of inspiration is continuing to unfurl, and now in the telling of the story, we have become a part of it."

• The narrative emphasizes the dynamic and evolving nature of inspiration and how the storytellers themselves become part of the ongoing narrative.

• Inspiration in architecture, like in any art form, is difficult to pinpoint and often comes from unexpected sources.
• The metaphor of a fish in a stream by architect Oliver Alto illustrates the gradual development of ideas.

"Architecture and its details are in some way all part of biology; they are like some big salmon or trout, not born fully grown."

• Ideas in architecture, similar to fish, require time to mature and develop fully.

"This is a story about one idea born hundreds of miles away in a far-off stream, traveling from northern Europe to Southern California, taking on a new life before making its way back again."

• The story traces the journey of an idea across different regions and contexts, highlighting its transformation and impact.

• Skateboarding is often banned in many places, but skateboarders have a unique appreciation for architectural details.
• Skateboarders recognize and utilize the small details of architecture, such as the quality of concrete and the incline of structures.

"It's kind of a pity that skateboarding is banned in so many places because skateboarders appreciate the small details of architecture more than anyone."

• Skateboarders have a deep understanding and appreciation of their environment, which is often overlooked by others.

"Skateboarding never says no. Girlfriends, jobs, life—people always say no. I can't do that. I've been doing this for 40 years; you can't tell me I can't do it."

• Skateboarding is portrayed as an art form and a lifestyle that embodies freedom and defiance against societal restrictions.

• The first skateboard was a modification of a scooter, evolving from a fad to a significant cultural phenomenon.
• Skateboarding initially had a brief appearance in the 1960s but quickly faded away, only to be rediscovered and reinvented by a new generation.

"The very first skateboard was called the skateboard scooter, and it was a scooter."

• The origins of skateboarding are traced back to a simple modification of existing toys, reflecting its grassroots beginnings.

"Skateboarding had a very brief appearance in 1964 and 65, sold in toy stores, and briefly became a fad."

• Skateboarding's initial rise and fall highlight its cyclical nature and the impact of cultural trends on its popularity.

• The invention of urethane wheels revolutionized skateboarding, allowing skaters to tackle various terrains safely.
• Urethane wheels provided better grip and durability, enabling skateboarders to explore and reinterpret urban landscapes.

"An invention comes along that would revolutionize skateboarding—the urethane wheel."

• The introduction of urethane wheels marked a significant technological advancement, transforming the capabilities and safety of skateboards.

"Suddenly we had a wheel that could grip and roll over bumps and little rocks, allowing us to attack terrain previously not possible."

• Urethane wheels expanded the possibilities for skateboarders, fostering creativity and exploration in urban environments.

• Skateboarders reinterpreted the city around them, finding beauty in the pavement and concrete.
• The drought in California in the 1970s led to empty swimming pools, which skateboarders repurposed as new skating terrains.

"These young kids were jumping fences, trespassing, and breaking things in search of new surfaces to ride."

• Skateboarders' quest for new terrains reflects their innovative spirit and willingness to challenge boundaries.

"The drought was so bad in the 70s that the water company ran dry, leading to empty swimming pools that skateboarders repurposed."

• Environmental conditions, like the drought, inadvertently contributed to the evolution of skateboarding by providing new opportunities for exploration.

These notes encapsulate the key themes and ideas discussed in the transcript, providing a comprehensive overview of the narrative's core messages and their significance.

• During a drought in the 1970s, water conservation efforts led to empty swimming pools in Los Angeles.
• These empty pools became a unique feature of the city, with distinctive shapes like peanuts, keyholes, and kidney beans.
• Skaters, including Stacy and his friends, began using these empty pools for skateboarding, leading to innovative skating techniques and styles.

"Billboard ads encouraged couples to shower together to save water, and to further save water, people didn't fill up their swimming pools."

• This quote highlights the water conservation efforts during the drought that led to empty pools, which skaters later utilized.

"The pools of Los Angeles are shaped like peanuts, like keyholes, like kidney beans... during the drought in the 70s, they were all empty."

• This explains the unique shapes of the pools and their availability for skateboarding due to the drought.

• Empty pools provided a new terrain for skateboarders, allowing them to develop new techniques and styles.
• Skateboarding in pools became a form of choreography, emphasizing grace and beauty in limited space.
• The popularity of pool skating led to the revival of skateboarding magazines and influenced the global skateboarding community.

"Skateboarding became a form of choreography where you're trying to do as much as possible in The Limited space of the pool and look graceful while doing it."

• This quote describes how pool skating evolved into an art form, focusing on grace and style.

"In the mid-70s, the magazine came back and it featured Stacy and his friends riding in backyard pools... every kid in America and all over the world wanted to get inside a swimming pool."

• This highlights the impact of pool skating on the skateboarding community and its role in reviving skateboarding magazines.

• Skaters developed aerial tricks by skating up and over the edges of pools, leading to new genres of skateboarding.
• These innovations paved the way for events like the X Games and influenced skaters like Tony Hawk.
• The unique design of Los Angeles pools played a crucial role in the evolution of these techniques.

"Eventually Stacy and the other skateboarders got so good at pool skating they were able to skate up over the edge of the pool... and these aerial tricks led to another genre of skateboarding."

• This quote explains how pool skating led to the development of aerial tricks and new skateboarding genres.

"The rounded biomorphic pools of Los Angeles... can all be traced back to the rounded biomorphic pools of Los Angeles."

• This emphasizes the importance of Los Angeles pools in the history and evolution of skateboarding.

• The Donnell Garden in Sonoma County is famous for its innovative landscape design and the first kidney-shaped pool in California.
• Designed by Thomas Church, the garden featured a lawn as a unifying feature, with abstract shapes and a distinctive pool.
• The garden influenced modern suburban backyards and the proliferation of biomorphic pool designs.

"The Donnell Garden was planted in 1948 and it was revolutionary at the time... it's mostly lawn... the garden looks like a sea of clean-cut grass with floating islands of tropical plant clusters."

• This quote describes the innovative design of the Donnell Garden and its departure from traditional garden styles.

"This from what we know was the first kidney-shaped pool in California... it is bright pristine electric blue and in the center of the pool is an abstract sculpture by Adeline Kent."

• This highlights the distinctive features of the Donnell Garden's kidney-shaped pool and its artistic elements.

• The Donnell Garden became an icon of American modern landscape architecture, influencing suburban backyard designs.
• Thomas Church's philosophy of creating functional outdoor spaces for people to use and enjoy resonated with modern families.
• The garden's design principles were widely published and imitated, shaping the suburban landscape across Southern California.

"The Donnell Garden became the epitome of outdoor California lifestyle throughout the 1950s... it became the icon certainly of American modern landscape architecture."

• This quote emphasizes the garden's influence on modern landscape architecture and its iconic status.

"Thomas Church... wanted to create outdoor spaces that people would use and love... the title of Thomas Church's book was actually Gardens are for people."

• This explains Church's philosophy and its impact on the design of the Donnell Garden and modern backyards.

• The Donnell Garden's kidney-shaped pool and its influence on skateboarding culture highlight the intersection of landscape design and sports.
• The garden's design elements reflect broader cultural trends of the mid-20th century, including the popularity of retro boomerang shapes.
• The garden's legacy continues to shape contemporary landscape architecture and suburban living.

"As images of the Donnell Garden began to spread... West Coast Landscape Architects were inspired by its creative use of Paving and Lawn and its beautiful biomorphic curvy pool."

• This quote illustrates the widespread influence of the Donnell Garden on landscape architecture and suburban design.

"We can't know for sure exactly where Thomas Church came up with the idea of using the original kidney shape... there is a really interesting and widespread theory about where Church got his inspiration for the kidney pool."

• This highlights the cultural and historical significance of the kidney-shaped pool and its impact on design trends.

• Janosario grew up in Finland watching videos of California skaters, which sparked his interest in skateboarding.
• Skateboarding led Janosario to develop an interest in architecture and design, aiming to create skateable urban spaces.

"Through Skateboarding, I fell in love with architecture and design."

• Janosario pursued architecture to influence the design of urban spaces for better skateboarding experiences.

"I'll just like sneak into that business and I won't tell anyone that I'm a skater and just make sure that the handrails are skateable or the stairs have good materials and curves."

• A lecture by a professor from California introduced Janosario to the concept of the kidney pool, but he discovered a Finnish origin.
• Alvar Aalto, a Finnish architect, designed a kidney pool, which predates the California kidney pool designs.

"There was a professor coming from California and she was having a lecture and talking about the Donald Garden. I think she was saying that it's the mother of all kidney pools, but that didn't seem right."

• Alvar Aalto was a pioneer in cross-disciplinary thinking and design, influencing both architecture and furniture design.
• Aalto's work is a significant part of Finnish national identity and is highly revered globally.

"Alvar Aalto is the man in Finland. There are busts of him everywhere. He designed a lot of the public and government buildings and meeting halls in Helsinki."

• Aalto’s designs, including his furniture, are ubiquitous in Finnish homes and public buildings.

"Almost every home has something designed by Alvar Aalto."

• Finland's architectural identity evolved after gaining independence in 1917, moving away from Russian influences.
• The architecture in downtown Helsinki reflects a mix of styles, often standing in for Moscow and Leningrad in films.

"It was only in 1917 that Finland became independent. Before that, it was Russian, and it looks like it."

• Functionalism, a reaction to the ornate and polluted cities of the 19th century, influenced Finnish architecture.

"Functionalists wanted to be healthy. It was a lot of sunlight here between buildings. It was fresh."

• Alvar Aalto incorporated functionalist ideas but added a natural and organic touch, often using wood in innovative ways.
• Aalto’s method of bending and curving wood allowed for unique designs in furniture and architecture.

"He made wood behave in ways it hadn't before, bending and gluing it in a new way."

• Aalto's designs featured curves in stairways, walls, and furniture, creating unpredictable and unique spaces.

"He wanted the buildings to be kind of something that you can't really predict."

• The Villa Mairea, designed by Aalto, featured a distinctive sock-shaped pool, possibly influencing the design of kidney pools in California.
• Thomas Church, a California landscape architect, visited Aalto and may have been inspired by Aalto’s designs.

"Thomas Church and his wife Betsy and Alvar Aalto and his first wife Aino all really hit it off and they got to be good friends."

• The sock-shaped pool at Villa Mairea predates the famous Donnell Garden pool, suggesting a Finnish influence on Californian pool designs.

"The Story Goes that Thomas Church went back home, then it was 1948 when the Donnell Garden was made, so almost 10 years after."

• The emptied pools during the 1970s drought in California inspired a new skate culture, which spread globally.
• Janosario, inspired by this culture, became a skatepark designer, creating skateable spaces across Europe.

"I'm the only skatepark designer in Finland. He designs curvaceous pools all over Europe, pools exclusively for skating."

• Public skate parks and pools are seen as sources of civic pride, especially in Finland, where modern skateboarding has roots.

"Public skate parks and skate pools should be a source of civic pride, especially in Finland where Jana likes to tease modern skateboarding began."

• Aalto’s designs, characterized by their curves and organic forms, continue to inspire modern architecture and design.
• Aalto’s inspiration remains somewhat mysterious, as he rarely discussed the origins of his ideas.

"Alto only talked about the birth of his ideas in an extended metaphor about a fish in a stream."

• The story of Aalto’s influence on skate culture and architecture highlights the unexpected connections between different fields.

"This is a story about the unexpected connections between things, and the story seems to just keep going on and on."

• Jonathan's youngest son had the idea for the oldest son's senior project to build a new skatepark.
• There was already a skatepark in their town built as a senior project in 1999.
• Jonathan discovered a committee forming to renovate the existing skatepark in Columbus, Indiana.

"My youngest son who was then 12 had this idea for my oldest son who skateboards who was then 14 he should start on his senior project now of a new skate park."

• The idea originated from Jonathan's younger son, indicating early engagement in community projects.

"Jonathan poked around a bit and looked into what was going on with this skate park and found out that a committee was just about to form through the parks department for a renovation of a skate park in Columbus."

• Jonathan's investigation led to the discovery of an ongoing renovation project for the skatepark.

• Columbus, Indiana is known for its significant works of architecture by prominent architects.
• The city contains 85 significant works of architecture, making it an unexpected epicenter of modern design.
• The town is characterized by its everyday, civic nature rather than being highbrow.

"It's the small city of 27,000 people but it's full of soaring statuesque modernist buildings by some of the most canonical architects of the 20th century."

• Columbus, Indiana, despite its size, is home to numerous important modernist buildings.

"You would think with 85 significant works of architecture it would be a highbrow place but it's just so everyday in Civic."

• The town's architecture is integrated into everyday public buildings, not just exclusive homes.

• Cummins, a Fortune 500 company, is a major presence in Columbus, designing and manufacturing engines.
• The company's origins trace back to Clessie Cummins, a talented mechanic who became the CEO with the support of the Miller family.
• Joseph Irwin Miller, an industrialist, played a pivotal role in beautifying the city and attracting talent through architectural projects.

"Cummins is a Fortune 500 company that designs manufactures and distributes engines and they work with Nissan and John Deere and Dodge."

• Cummins' significant role in the automotive industry and its presence in Columbus.

"The family chauffeur was tinkering and perfecting the diesel engines his name was classy Cummins... the industrialist Joseph Irwin Miller bankrolled an engine company and klessy Cummins their chauffeur became the CEO."

• Clessie Cummins' journey from a chauffeur to the CEO of a major company, supported by the Miller family.

• Eliel Saarinen, a prominent architect, played a crucial role in Columbus' architectural landscape.
• Eliel's son, Eero Saarinen, also made significant contributions with iconic designs like the Saint Louis Arch and the TWA Terminal.
• The collaboration between Eliel and Eero on various projects in Columbus left a lasting impact.

"Eliel cernan moved to the United States in the 20s and settled in the midwest he was a professor at the University of Michigan and here in the states elliel is just as famous for his buildings as he is for his son because he was the father of Arrow Serenity."

• Eliel Saarinen's move to the U.S. and his influence on American architecture, along with his son Eero's contributions.

"When Ellie osarnin built a simple geometric Limestone Church in 1942 in Columbus Indiana aerosarinen got roped in and he worked with his father on the first church."

• The collaboration between Eliel and Eero Saarinen on architectural projects in Columbus.

• Jonathan reached out to Yana Sario, a Finnish skatepark designer, inspired by a podcast episode.
• Yana became the designer of the new skatepark in Columbus, working with a local skatepark builder.
• The skatepark design is praised for its beauty and functionality, resembling ocean waves.

"Jonathan reached out to Yana sario The Finnish skatepark designer in the story because of our episode."

• Jonathan's initiative to contact Yana Sario after being inspired by a podcast episode.

"The park almost looks like ocean waves people love it it's just been absolutely incredible the skaters the BMXers the guys that ride the scooters they all love it."

• The skatepark's design and its positive reception by the community.

• The project became a family effort, with Jonathan's oldest son also on the committee.
• The skatepark has become a community hub, drawing nearly 50 people and fostering a sense of accomplishment for Jonathan.
• The project highlights the journey from idea to realization and its potential to inspire future generations.

"It's so gratifying to Jonathan especially because his oldest son was also on the committee so it was kind of a family effort and now they all get to enjoy the fruits of their labor together."

• The personal and familial satisfaction derived from the project's success.

"What a kind of fun way to have them see an idea and then see the steps that it takes to realize an idea which of course is what the story is All About where ideas come from and where they travel."

• The educational and inspirational value of the project, demonstrating the journey of ideas.

• The skatepark project connects to a broader narrative of cultural and historical influences, including the origins of surfing and changes in film due to skate culture.
• The story illustrates how local projects can have wide-reaching implications and connections.

"The fact that it also manifested in this literal concrete example in Columbus Indiana is just gorgeous."

• The tangible realization of the skatepark project as a beautiful culmination of various influences.

"The story goes off in all these different directions but the fact that it also manifested in this literal concrete example in Columbus Indiana is just gorgeous."

• The multifaceted nature of the story, encompassing historical, cultural, and personal dimensions.

• The podcast episode was produced by Avery Truffleman, edited by Delaney Hall, and included contributions from various individuals and organizations.
• Special thanks were given to those who contributed to the story and its production.

"Sincere gratitude this week to Michael Burnett Mark Rodriguez Jason Reitman Chris Funk and Adam Lee Charles Birnbaum and the cultural landscape Foundation San Francisco Garden designer Gabrielle Cameron David Lewis and Alto University."

• Acknowledgment of the individuals and organizations that contributed to the podcast episode.

"We are a project of 91.7 kalw in San Francisco and produced on radio Row in beautiful Downtown Oakland California 99 invisible is a member of radiotopia from PRX."

• Information about the production and affiliation of the podcast.