MAK Center

We've all seen the cartoons, television shows, and movies that portray a dying desert wanderer as he glimpses an oasis in the middle of the desert. Usually, it ends up being a mirage and they wake up to find themselves doing backstrokes in the sand, but if you find yourself wandering through the middle of the Mojave and you see a glistening, pristine swimming pool in the distance, your eyes aren't deceiving you.  The functioning swimming pool, located somewhere in the middle of a 25,000 square-mile desert, is an art installation by Alfredo Barsuglio. Titled Social Pool, the secret swimming spot was created to illustrate "the effort people make to reach a luxury good", a point that Barsulgio has gone to great lengths to make.  The only way to discover the hidden pool yourself, save for wandering the desert aimlessly, is to make a visit to the MAK Center for Art and Architecture in West Hollywood and inquire about the key. If you're thinking of giving them a phone call, forget about it. You can't call ahead and ask about the key, and you can't make a reservation - you have to physically stop in hope the key isn't checked out. If you manage to snag the key, the front desk will give you a set of GPS coordinates, and off you go.  From the official description: Social Pool is located in the desert, in a remote area without any infrastructure. Be aware that there are no roads, trails or signs that lead to the pool. You will have to walk a certain distance in order to reach the pool from the nearest road. Don’t forget to bring drinking water, food and sun protection. For your stay in the desert, it’s recommended to wear a hat, sun glasses and boots. Adventurers who make the trek some 90 miles into the desert will be greeted with a shimmering blue oasis, but it's up to them to keep it that way. Each visitor is required to bring a gallon of water to the location in order to keep the installation from drying up.  Ready to check it out yourself? Roll the dice, head to MAK Center in LA, and be sure to snap a bunch of pictures to make the internet jealous of your desert adventures. -Roadtrippers The MAK Center is a contemporary, experimental, multi-disciplinary center for art and architecture headquartered in architect Rudolph M. Schindler’s House and Studio (1922) in West Hollywood. Acting as a “think tank” for current issues in art, architecture, urbanism, design, and international discourse, the MAK Center encour/ages the exploration of experimental, practical, and theoretical trajectories of the contemporary. Offering a year-round schedule of exhibitions, lectures, symposia, and concerts, the MAK Center proudly presents programming that challenges conventional notions of architectural space and relationships between the creative arts, thereby making a unique contribution to the artistic and cultural landscape of Los Angeles. The MAK Center is a unique constellation of modern buildings designed by architect R.M. Schindler. It operates from the landmark Schindler House (1922) in West Hollywood, and the Mackey Apartments (1939) and the Fitzpatrick-Leland House (1936) in Los Angeles. The MAK Center is also the only place you can receive a key and GPS coordinates to Social Pool, a mysterious swimming pool designed by Alfredo Barsuglio and located in the middle of the Mojave Desert.