Words and Images by Lucia Jost
This summer, as in so many summers past, I found myself at Sommerbad Kreuzberg – lovingly referred to as The Prinzenbad.
Here, I captured the essence of young women who, like myself, opt to bask in the sun at this storied Berlin outdoor pool. The Prinzenbad represents much more than a mere swimming location to me; it embodies cherished memories: echoes of my childhood, and a version of Berlin that thrived long before the arrival of Matcha Lattes, Harry Styles, and soaring rents.
No other environment stirs such a profound sense of summer and nostalgia within me as lounging under the sun with a circle of women in a public pool. Flowing conversations of gossip, laughter, and discussions about careers, babies, and partners fill the air. Swimming alongside friends brings me a feeling of liberation. It transports me back to those endless six-week breaks from school – to timeless friendships, greasy fingers from indulging in poolside fries, chlorine stinging the eyes, and the familiar scent of sunscreen.
Gabrielle, nine months pregnant
Lucia Jost
Rosalie and Charlotte
Lucia Jost
Zoe and Lilly
Lucia Jost
Luisa
Lucia Jost
Chiara
Lucia Jost
Lula and Zoe sharing Cigarettes
Lucia Jost
Katharina after training
Lucia Jost
Jule
Lucia Jost
Bahar and Jule
Lucia Jost