From Stephen Wilkes, the roller coaster from the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, partially submerged in the ocean after Hurricane Sandy.

Stilt houses, Ganvie, Benin, by Iwan Baan. Commissioned photograph for the exhibition.

Global Green’s Holy Cross community project, Lower Ninth Ward, New Orleans, Louisiana, by Stephen Wilkes. Commissioned photograph for the exhibition.

A woman makes her way down the seawall along the Kitakama and Ainokama coastline in Sendai, Japan, in a photo by Paula Bronstein. After the tsunami in 2011, the Japanese government has spent billions of yen on the reconstruction of a 31.8 km seawall along the Sendai coastline. Commissioned photograph for the exhibition.

Pabna, Bangladesh, 2010, from Jonas Bendiksen. The nongovernmental organization Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha runs a fleet of more than 50 floating schools and libraries in an effort to provide basic education in a severely flood-prone area.

Ducks swim close to the windows.

Eichler Swim & Tennis Club, Palo Alto, California.

Dad, a swimmer and triathlete, pops down to the river every chance he gets, rinsing off in the outdoor shower afterwards.

The 82-foot-long pool gets quite a lot of use by Jeff and Millie, and especially by the kids, who are both on the local swim team.

Stilts elevate the new spaces, keeping them clear of flood waters while also making it possible to swim underneath the buildings.

Watervilla de Omval, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, by Iwan Baan. The houseboat floats in the Amstel river.

Day takes a swim in a new lap pool framed by a lush Southern California garden. The lower wall next to the pool is made from stacked Pennsylvania bluestone, which was used for all exterior stone as well.

In this Australian project, a resort-worthy swimming pool sits beside the industrial-chic kitchen and living area. It's a joy to swim in, of course, but the body of water also provides evaporative cooling for the courtyard.

Competitive swimmer Sydne Didier commissioned Austin Design Inc. to create a 102-foot-long pool house in a freestanding structure behind her Amherst, Massachusetts, house.

A pergola keeps swimmers cool on hot days.

Treat yourself to a rejuvenating massage or a swim in the outdoor pond at the August wellness center.

An outdoor patio where the owners can enjoy some Californian sunshine after a swim.

The east-facing pool terrace is outfitted with a series of Eos lounge chairs (and plenty of inflatable swim toys).

The ensuite master bath means that you can make a B-line for the shower after your swim.

Wright Feldhusen Architects designed this house for a client that loves to swim. A lap pool connects the home to the ocean that lies beyond the property in Maroubra, Australia, a suburb of Sydney.

Beyond the guest bedroom lies the rocky shore and the coastline's dramatic landscape. A 20-minute walk takes Schneider and her guests to small ponds (and calmer waters) in which to swim.

Even the pool is the result of mixed influences: Andrew wanted a series of shallow, gently sloping hangout zones; his wife, Amy, a former competitive swimmer, needed a full lane deep enough for laps.

Residents of Schoonschip, a floating neighborhood in Amsterdam, designed their own houses, working with various architects and contractors. The water in the formerly industrial canal is now clean enough to swim in, but the opposite shore is still a landscape of warehouses.

Spencer Greene and his daughter, Anya, go for a dip in their Palo Alto, California, home. The three-inch-thick acrylic pool window allows the parents to monitor their children’s swims from the LC4 chaise longue.

An outdoor pool is situated among the trees, allowing swimmers to be completely immersed in nature. Like the home, its footprint was determined by the existing trees on the site, and its otherwise geometric form is playfully interrupted by a diversion around a tree trunk.

The winglike dips in the roofline situate and hold the house against the region’s brutal winds. As the outdoor chairs attest, lifestyles here pass easily between inside and out; a long hike and a good swim are always just steps away

This well-appointed home boasts cheerful, design-minded interiors. The backyard provides a seemingly endless list of activities: Guests can swim in the saltwater pool, play bocce on the at-home court, or follow the sun in the several seating areas.

Rear Deck and Swim Float

Rear Deck and Swim Float

The home is located across from one of Melbourne’s bay beaches, and it needed to easily accommodate the family’s regular beach visits. “From morning swims to summer days on the beach, the home is intrinsically connected to the sun, water, and sand,” says architect Tony Vella.

If you have an eye for design, this rental is the perfect match for you. This professionally designed, vintage-inspired home sleeps six guests in its three spacious bedrooms. With a pool big enough to swim laps and a jacuzzi to rest your tired bones, the backyard is the optimal place to rejuvenate.

The couple had spent a lot of time in Palm Springs, as well as at Austin's Hotel San Jose, and they knew they wanted a pool to provide relief from the Texas heat. Ryan Lemmo sketched out the pool location so the couple could enjoy the live oaks and landscaping during their daily summer swims.

Rear Deck and Swim Float with view of Sellwood Bridge

Located in Honolulu on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, The Surfjack was designed to celebrate the true soul of Waikiki, the island's local creatives, and the creative movement that's taking the city by storm. The 112 vintage-inspired rooms and playful Swim Club take cues from the heyday of midcentury design.

The Terry Thomas (interior view) in Seattle, Washington, by Weber Thompson. Photo by Lara Swimmer.

Emma Worple dries off from a swim at the cedar-clad sleeping cabin; the door slides shut to shield the cabin from harsh winter winds.