Collaborative, digital and therefore time and cost efficient project management is the focus of our overall process. Projects are set up in real time, according to the LEAN methodology in order to optimise all design and construction processes, while consistently using the latest BIM technologies. We don’t just think about tomorrow, we focus on the distant future. This means, we make our buildings sustainable, efficient with that feel-good-factor.
www.pellikaan.com
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EDITORIAL
Dear IAKS members and friends of ‘sb‘,
Meteorological summer arrived on 1 June – at least in the northern hemisphere of our blue planet. As the first hot days of the year arrive, many outdoor swimming pools are reopening. With a tradition stretching back almost 200 years, they are firmly anchored in the summer lifestyle of many people – a place of carefree normality. But the start of the outdoor swimming season reflects more than just rising temperatures. In times of increasing heat waves and growing social inequality, public swimming pools are taking on a new, existential significance.
Swimming pools are places where people come together. Here, children swim alongside pensioners, and young people, families and groups of friends meet – often from very different social backgrounds. At a time when social divisions are becoming increasingly visible, swimming pools remain one of the few public spaces that are truly open to all and sundry. For the price of an admission ticket – and in some municipalities even almost free of charge – they not only offer recreation, but are also a key factor in fostering social participation.
Outdoor swimming pools are also infrastructure for climate adaptation. The sweltering summers of recent years show how urgently cities need spaces that allow people to cool off. Vulnerable groups in particular – older people, small children, people without air conditioned living spaces – depend on accessible places where they can get through hot days in good health. If they‘re close to home and affordable and have good opening hours, outdoor pools can play a big role here.
However, it is precisely such facilities that are under threat: a shortage of skilled workers, a modernisation backlog and dwindling finances mean that many local authorities are fighting for the survival of their swimming pools. Yet the benefits are not only for health and society, but also for the economy in the long term. Investing in swimming pools today not only promotes health, but also strengthens urban resilience to climate change and creates places for community in an increasingly fragmented society.
I am therefore all the more gratified when I cast my expert eye over the very diverse pool projects presented in this issue of ‘sb‘. All of the leisure facilities – from classical outdoor pools with a long history to multipurpose sports complexes and modern spas – share one common feature: they all have an outdoor pool or a pool with an outdoor character. This should give us occasion to rethink the future of these public spaces. It is not just about water and cooling off. It is about social justice, preventive health care and quality of life in hot times. Outdoor swimming pools are not a luxury – they are a public service. And that’s why they should be treated as such by government.
If we as a society want to become more resilient to the challenges of the future, then that starts sometimes with taking the plunge. I wish us all a safe and peaceful outdoor swimming season and a summer that lives up to its name.
Marc Riemann Deputy Chairman of IAKS Germany, Head of Pool Operations and Authorized Officer, KölnBäder GmbH
Marc Riemann
Title: Waldbad Zimmeregg
Photo: Andreas Buschmann
ADVERTORIALS
IAKS Facility Tour - Pools
Stuttgart - Stutensee - Koblenz - Bad Ems - Cologne 26 to 27 October 2025
The two day IAKS Facility Tour Pools offers an immersive learn ing experience in the field of pools and aquatic facilities, showcasing a blend of four successful aquatic facilities (a cosy indoor swimm ing pool; an energysustainable community swimming complex, a thermal bath and spa on the river, and a combined pool and ice skating rink), and also brings you up to date on the current construction project `Pool out of the box‘.
With stops in five cities from 26 27 October 2025, the facility tour will take place in the run up to the aquanale trade fair the No. 1 meeting place for the international swimming
Enhance your IAKS Congress & trade fair experience:
pool and wellness industry. Fostering innovations for a conscious lifestyle centred around health, wellness and exercise, the aquanale trade fair will take place in Cologne, Germany from 28 31 October 2025.
Discover the full scope of the two day travel package and register now, limited places.
New attendance record at the 20th Management Conference on Ice Rinks in Munich, Germany on 19 to 21 May 2025
Specialist presentations, panels of experts, networking events, company exhibitions and exciting insights into Europe’s most modern sports arena – the 20th IAKS Management Conference on Ice Rinks 2025 brought together facility managers, ice rink technicians and specialists from across the German-speaking world. This year’s conference was held in the Bavarian capital of Munich, which provided the perfect setting for three enlightening days with its state-of-the-art venues, impressive infrastructure and its active passion for ice sports.
Insights into Europe‘s most advanced sports arena
The event kicked off with a tour of the SAP Garden, the new showpiece of Munich‘s ice sports scene. After a reception in the exclusive VIP lounge, Oliver Wesp, Managing Director of Red Bull Stadion München GmbH, and Andreas Mayer, Head of Arena Operations, welcomed the participants with an introductory presentation on the design and ongoing operation of this state-of-the-art multifunctional arena.
The SAP Garden team then gave a tour of the impressive facility. During the walkthrough, Engo, Cento Design & Production, Lanz Manufaktur Germany and Walter Wettstein supplied information at various key points on their technical innovations developed specifically for the SAP Garden.
At the end of the first day of the event, the ‘Bavarian Evening’ at the Wirtshaus zur Brez‘n provided regional cuisine and a relaxed atmosphere for lively conversation.
Specialist presentations, exhibition tour and further viewing – focus on strategy and technology
On the second day, Smartvillage Bogenhausen in Arabellapark opened its doors to conference guests. Following the opening of the company exhibition and official welcome addresses by Klaus Meinel (IAKS) and Peter Lautenschlager (VDEM), Thomas Reichard from the City of Munich‘s Department of Education and Sport provided insight into the development and strategy of ice sports in the state capital. For the ageing ice sports infrastructure including several outdoor ice rinks, the SAP Garden with its three ice sports training halls is a significant step towards safeguarding the range of sporting activities on offer.
In an engaging presentation on the energy strategy and building services at the SAP Garden, Benjamin Bührer from BBP Ingenieurbüro shared technical details and sustainable solutions. Significant energy savings were achieved through a holistic approach to refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat supply.
The afternoon was devoted to the practical implementation of sustainability measures. Daniel Merz (Energielenker) presented the energy transformation plan for VillingenSchwenningen ice rink. Peter Lautenschlager reported on the latest changes resulting from the revision of DIN 18036. Explaining the requirements for the accessible design of modern websites for public sports facilities, Christoph Irmer (Stileffekt) and Michael Loy (Locaboo) highlighted the potential of digital sports facility management.
Two exhibition tours gave the participating companies the opportunity to present their innovative products and solutions.
The evening continued with a tour of the CASA indoor street park, where participants were given an exciting introduction to Munich‘s skateboarding and biking scene by the operator HIGH FIVE e.V. The communityoriented, weatherindependent usage concept makes CASA a yearround hub for the scene and left a positive and lasting impression on participants.
Afterwards, participants had a chance to unwind in the Augustiner Keller beer garden in early summer temperatures – a perfect combination of shop talking and Bavarian hospitality.
Operator responsibility and sustainability
The third day of the event began with the VDEM general meeting, followed by a presentation on data protection for operators and clubs by Michael Schmitz (Schmitz GbR).
In a panel discussion on sustainability for league matches and public ice sports, Thorsten Licht (DEB), Jürgen Fottner (ARENA Nuremberg) and Milton Tauche (Grosse Kreisstadt Weisswasser/O.L. Eisarena) exchanged information on the opportunities, challenges and measures already implemented.
A brief coffee break in the exhibition area was followed by an interactive barcamp format with open rounds of discussion, during which participants were able to actively contribute and raise topics of their own choosing.
The conference closed with a keynote speech on operator responsibility and sustainable building management by Wolfgang Inderwies (IndeConsult). In the subsequent panel discussion, Dirk König (Klosterpark Adelberg) and Dominik Petzka (Kaufbeuren Ice Stadium) outlined where it made sense to outsource building services at public ice sports facilities.
The IAKS Management Conference 2025 ended with a networking lunch – three busy days packed with hands on knowledge, the sharing of ideas and faceto face conversations that will be remembered not only professionally but also in terms of forging personal ties. A big thank you to everyone involved, our partner companies and, above all, our hosts in Munich for their great work and hospitality!
Author and photos: IAKS
We thank our partners for their kind support
Impressions of the event can be found in the photo gallery
Strong need to strengthen collaboration between health and leisure sectors
IAKS UK & Ireland conference and facility tours in Cardiff, 10 and 11 April 2025
Over 100 attendees at ‘Active Wellbeing in Communities’ were confronted with the stark health and physical activity issues in this part of the UK, along with inventive ways that challenges like these are being tackled both here and overseas. The two-day event at the Principality Stadium in the heart of the Welsh capital looked at how sports and leisure facilities can better serve communities. It was built around how a unique piece of Welsh legislation is influencing health and leisure, and how learnings from this can be applied in other countries.
Shaun Dawson, Chief Executive of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority in London, opened the Cardiff event saying, “Our objective is to enable more active and healthy communities. This event has a special Welsh perspective and a strong international flavour.”
This was expanded on by Moderator Joanne Martin of My Leisure Consultants who explained, “This seminar is special. It’s the first time IAKS UK & Ireland has hosted in Wales. Wales is the only nation to embed in law the need to safeguard future generations through the Future Generations Act.”
Keynote speaker Derek Walker, the Commissioner for the Welsh Government for the Future Generations Act, set out how this embeds longterm thinking into public policy and how Wales must ‘do the now and tomorrow at the same time’. Improving health, wellbeing, active travel and eco literacy are among the many challenges that the legislation is tackling. He told the audience that sport and leisure need to be more integrated into all policy areas.
Assistant Director at Sports Wales Owen Hathway laid out how Sport Wales’ targeted investment creates impacts beyond sport itself and leads to health, social, community and enviro mental benefits.
Empathetic activity programs going beyond traditional leisure centres
Development Officer Lucy Donovan outlined Newport Live’s phenomenal Positive Futures Programme outreach work in one of the challenging areas of the country. “We’re looking across generations of people with no work, where there is poor mental health and often a lack of trust in mainstream services.” She explained how she uses sport to engage marginalized young people and that activity spaces should be looked at differently –car parks and community spaces can be used as good as pitches and sports halls.
Prof. Jim McManus, Wales’ National Director of Public Health, showed that 46% of adults in Wales have longterm health con-
ditions. People often think medics can solve all health issues but diet, income, housing, smoking and physical activity levels have greater impacts on life expectancy. “We have created the perfect environment for people to die early,” he told delegates from Wales, the rest of the UK, Ireland and Scandinavia. “We know physical activity is good for mental health and strength for life. If it was a pill, you’d bottle it and make a lot of money from it.”
Design, facility mix, business plans and operations all play a role in achieving meaningful outcomes Day two focused on how the leisure sector is uniquely positioned to create opportunities for communities to lead more active lives.
According to Managing Director Paul Cluett from Alliance Leisure, the industry needs to better understand the social value of facilities. “We’ve found that we need to sit with both users and – crucially – nonusers,” he said, explaining that this understanding is vital to remove barriers to activity. He gave the example of a venue in Clay Cross in England that includes clinics and community advice services as well as leisure facilities.
Spaces for self-organized sports
Lisa Mari Watson, Managing Director from Tverga in Norway agreed with him: “We believe that smarter solutions come from involving the people that they are meant for.” The more you understand what communities want, the more likely you are to hit the target of what you create. “Multiuse is a good way, not single purpose. Involve users early. I challenge you to get in touch with user groups that you don’t see in your facilities. Dare to think out of the box.”
Stephen Dietz Hodgson of JAJA Architects in Denmark shared a visionary incorporation of unstructured activity into a car park with staircase running tracks and cross fit on the roof as well as a wildly exciting transformation of a redundant industrial building into a Streetmekka – a place for street art and street sports which “breaks down traditional ideas of sport and creates new ways of engaging.”
According to CEO Steve Ward of Newport Live, 99% of the daily use of Newport International Sports Village is by people seeking to have a health and wellbeing impact. Flexibility was key with an incredible 19 different activities in the village’s velodrome – the bulk of which can happen while cycling training goes on. “People will live longer, and we want them to live in better health. There is enormous social value to combatting loneliness and bringing people together. Reengineer sports venues to be for wellness and for people’s whole lives,” he told the audience.
Eoin O’Brien and Barry Dempsey from Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in Ireland told how well organized sports clubs often dictate how resources are used. This can exclude many groups – young people who want a place to hang out, older people who may just need a level footpath. They explained how they now have created much more multi use facilities and removed physical fences and other barriers.
Active travel and large-scale wellbeing initiatives
The conference closed with a fascinating insight into Uppsala, Sweden’s fourth largest city which has a quarter of its popula-
With kind support of our partners:
tion involved in sports clubs and where cycling is a way of life. However, Charlotta Karlsson from Sport Uppsala explained that clubs are mainly driven by competitive objectives which don’t necessarily embrace people who, for example, take up sport later. Mikael Johansson from the city council shared how they created a stunning yearround activity zone from a park that previously hosted only winter sport. It was striking how barriers were removed – they built support from residents and politicians and tried small scale initiatives first with low threshold activities. A ‘leisure library’ lends out free sports equipment.
We need to rethink and reinvent
The two day event included a workshop, extensive networking opportunities and tours of the Principality Stadium and the nearby National Sports Centre. A huge thank you to the seven event sponsors, 15 speakers and moderator Joanne Martin. Special thanks to Mike Lawless, Elizabeth Adams and Charlotte King from LA Architects for putting the event together and leading some unforgettable Welsh singing.
Author: IAKS UK & Ireland, Stephen Bromberg
Photos: IAKS, Silke Bardenheuer
Cultivating contacts, strengthening the network
IAKS Switzerland General Meeting 2025
On 8 May 2025, this year’s IAKS Switzerland General Meeting took place in the Ilfishalle in Langnau on the SCL Tigers Campus, which opened in 2024. The event provided an opportunity for face-to-face meetings, professional interaction and insights into current developments in sports infrastructure.
The official part of the meeting focused on two changes to the Executive Board. Martin Bühler (Sports Department of the City of St. Gallen) and Felix Vogt (Vogasport AG) stepped down from their positions after many years of dedicated service on the board.
Felix Vogt, who served as Treasurer for over ten years and previously as auditor, was honoured for his outstanding service. With a strong sense of responsibility and tireless dedication, he made a vital contribution to IAKS Switzerland‘s financial stability. In recognition of his services, he was appointed an honorary member at the meeting. The Swiss section is delighted that Felix will retain his links with the IAKS as a member and wishes him all the best for the future, especially good health.
Stephan Fässler (Fässler Freiraumplanung AG) was newly elected to the board as Felix Vogt‘s successor and will take on the role of Treasurer He has been committed to highquality, adaptable and ecofriendly open spaces since 2015. In his new role, he is responsible for the implementation and monitoring of financial tasks and brings valuable professional experience to the Board.
The section also bade farewell to Martin Bühler, who is taking early retirement after more than eight years on the board in charge of projects. He brought the viewpoint of urban and rural municipalities to the table, giving important fresh impetus to the section‘s work. IAKS Switzerland thanks him warmly for
his many years of dedication and wishes him every happiness in the next phase of his life.
Glimpse behind the scenes at SCL Tigers Campus
The General Meeting was followed by a handson tour of the SCL Tigers Campus. Peter Jakob (Chairman of the Board of Directors of SCL Tigers and CEO of Jakob AG) outlined the history of the project and gave fascinating insights into the challenges involved. Those attending were able to see for themselves how modern infrastructure can be designed and built. The athletics hall, artificial ice rink and other functional facilities demonstrated the versatility and forwardthinking approach to contemporary sports facilities.
Tour of rope and net specialist Jakob AG in Trubschachen
The tour wrapped up with a visit to Jakob AG in Trubschachen. The company gave us an informative look at its production processes and showed the many ways its rope and net systems are used in sports and leisure. IAKS Switzerland is very grateful to the company for its hospitality and willingness to share.
The 2025 General Meeting once again demonstrated the importance of facetoface discussions and shared learning within the IAKS network. For experts in the design, construction and operation of sports facilities, it remains a key forum for knowledge transfer, cooperation and innovation.
Author and photos: IAKS Switzerland
Honorary member Felix Vogt, President Roger Gut
Departing board member Martin Bühler, President Roger Gut
NEW TO THE IAKS NETWORK
Caroline is a professional with a decade of experience in sport architecture, project and program management, specifically in the field of temporary sports infrastructures / overlay, with a distinguished track record in the Major Global Sport Event, having worked on the last three consecutive Olympic and Paralympic Games.
She is currently working in her fourth Olympics, as a Senior Associate with woo architects for LA2028. With a Bachelor of Architecture and Urban Planning accompanied by a PMP Certificate, and currently ongoing a Master in Sport Design and Management, her expertise encompasses the design, planning and delivery of unique temporary facilities for sport competitions.
Sports Clean
Sydney (Australia)
Sports Clean’s core business is the provision of maintenance solutions to synthetic sporting facility surfaces for a variety of sports and surface types.
Sports Clean is currently responsible for regular maintenance at many synthetic surface facilities, including on more than 50 synthetic football fields along the Australian Eastern seaboard.
The Sydney based company has invested heavily in capability and capacity including staff training, plant capacity and data management software systems logging scheduling and reporting. They prioritise regular client communication aiming to add value to facility and asset management. They regularly inspect sites providing preventative maintenance solutions.
www.sportsclean.com.au
Shayne
As a Quantity Surveyor with over 40 years of expertise in cost management, project estimation, and contract administration, Shayne specialises in sports and leisure facilities. He ensures precise cost forecasting, strategic value engineering, and efficient resource allocation.
His commitment to sustainability drives innovative, resourceefficient solutions that minimise environmental impact while achieving client objectives. Renowned for his leadership and communication skills, Shayne builds strong client relationships and guides projects toward success with professionalism and integrity.
SLAM Services
Tyrrellspass (Ireland)
Sports, Landscape & Amenity Management Limited T/A SLAM Services delivers world class advisory, consultancy, design and project management for outdoor sports facilities, landscaping, and amenities. Specializing in sports, leisure and wellbeing facilities, public spaces, parks, sports grounds, and sports halls, SLAM ensure every project meets industryleading standards. As an independent partner, SLAM work solely in the best interest of their clients, offering unbiased expertise to maximize facility performance and return on investment. The team of engineers, agronomists, and project managers provides expert support to create exceptional sports environments.
In summary, all the needs and demands of today’s athletes are provided under one roof.
www.slamservices.ie
Taylor Sydney (Australia)
Caroline Pignaton Recla da Silva Paris (France)
Manuel Granja, a licensed architect in the USA, specializes in fitness facility design, exceeding 46,450 m² across 100+ projects, spanning residential, commercial, clubs, and resorts. He has collaborated with brands like Adidas, CycleBar, Lifefitness, and Marriott.
Prioritizing human performance, wellness, and sustainability, Granja serves as an AIA Ohio board member and AIA Cincinnati Urban Design co chair, blending professional expertise with athletic passion. An Ironman 70.3 finisher, swimmer, and soccer player, he values community. His international experience shapes his approach to creating fitness spaces that enhance both physical and environmental wellbeing.
National Sports and Cultural Center (Luxembourg)
The National Sports and Cultural Center of Luxembourg prides itself on being a real ‘temple dedicated to sport and culture’ nestled in a huge 60.000 m² building characterized by rounded and harmonious lines. The venue includes an aquatic center, an indoor athletics track, a gymnasium, a table tennis hall, a martial arts area and a climbing wall. Alongside the various sports and cultural events, federal, school and elite sports represent the largest part of the activities.
Thanks to the modern infrastructure for top level sports, such as the High Performance Training & Recovery Center (HPTRC), elite athletes also find their home. In addition to the sports activities, the centre also offers several services such as a hotel, a restaurant, a wellness centre and business solutions.
www.coque.lu
... and just let yourself drift. With a lazy river, your pool area be comes the center of attraction for the whole family. The unique current of our HydroStar turbine swimming sys tem is the perfect addition to the fun: its current creates the feeling of swimming in a real river.
Remund Architekten AG is an architectural firm in Bern, Switzerland that was founded in 1980 by Rudolf Remund and is now run by the second generation, Patrick and Nicola Remund, together with two longstanding employees. With its twelvestrong team, the company offers all architectural services in accordance with SIA.
The portfolio includes planning and studies (strategic planning, feasibility studies, development plans) as well as construction projects (new buildings, conversions, renovations, construction management). The architectural firm takes part in and supports competitions. Remund Architekten also offer other services such as estimates, sales documentation, measurements and client representation
www.remund-architekten.com
Club Athletico Paranaense Curitiba (Brazil)
Club Athletico Paranaense, founded in 1924 in Curitiba, Brazil, is a nonprofit private association dedicated to promoting social development through sports, culture, and education. Football is the core activity, developed across both professional and youth levels. The Club is home to two of the most advanced facilities in South America: The Ligga Arena, a FIFA compliant stadium used in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, featuring a retractable roof and hybrid pitch, and the CAT do Caju, a world class training centre for professional teams and youth development. Athletico has recently earned international recognition with titles such as the Copa Sudamericana (2018 and 2021), the Copa do Brasil (2019), and the Suruga Bank Championship (Japan, 2019). The mission is to inspire excellence, innovate in sports infrastructure, and empower communities through inclusive and sustainable athletic programs.
www.athletico.com.br
Stadtwerke Freudenstadt (Germany)
Stadtwerke Freudenstadt is the operator of the Panorama Bad Freudenstadt: a versatile sports, leisure and family pool with an outdoor pool, water slides, 5metre diving tower and a 7metre climbing wall. A beautiful toddlers‘ area with a warm water pool and the large vitality area with a water adventure pool as well as an outdoor pool make the pool a popular destination in the northern Black Forest. The sauna area with log cabin saunas and outdoor pool rounds off the experience.
The Panorama Bad aims to offer relaxation, fun and quality for guests of all ages, ensuring bathing fun all year round.
www.sw-freudenstadt.de
City of Helsinki (Finland)
Helsinki is the capital of Finland. It’s a charming seaside city with a population of 675,000. Located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, Helsinki is a place where urban culture meets coastal nature. Helsinki is the administrative centre of the country: it’s where the Parliament of Finland convenes and where the ministries are located. Helsinki is also an important business hub. Sports have a strong position in the city. Helsinki is home to many active sports clubs, and the facility network is versatile and extensive. It includes, for example, swimming facilities, indoor ice rinks, crosscountry skiing routes, and multiple indoor and outdoor facilities originally built for the Olympic Games in Helsinki in 1952.
The easy going Nordic lifestyle and friendly locals make it easy to fall in love with this northern city – the capital of the happiest country in the world.
www.hel.fi
Use the knowledge of our worldwide network!
Who
we are
The IAKS is the leading global non-profit organisation for professionals from the sports, leisure and recreation facilities industry. Since 1965, IAKS has been enabling international networking for the exchange of expertise in the fields of architecture, construction and operations. IAKS is an IOC Recognized Organisation and cooperates with the IPC and many more international non-profit bodies.
Our network is the meeting place for architects, engineers, clients, designers, local authorities, technical and operative management, sports federations and clubs!
IAKS has partners and members in 153 countries. National sections serve local interests, organise regional and own events and provide information to the members of their countries.
You’re enthusiastic about high-quality, functional and sustainable sports facilities? You appreciate cross-sector exchange among experts?
You’re looking for or can provide forward-looking information on the architecture, construction and operation of sports and leisure facilities?
If so, you’ll feel at home in the international IAKS network: for inspiration, solutions and a global forum.
Transformation of vacant church into public swimming pool in Heerlen
MVRDV and Zecc Architecten have won the competition for the transformation of the St. Francis of Assisi Church in Heerlen into a public swimming pool. Nicknamed “Holy Water”, the transformation gives the vacant church a new, social function, while preserving the historic elements of this listed national monument. An adjustable swimming pool floor brings flexibility to the space that was once the church’s nave, allowing it to host a variety of activities in addition to swimming. The floor also makes it possible to fill the entire space with a thin layer of water, creating an impressive reflection of the church that gives visitors the feeling that they can walk on water.
Originally built over 100 years ago, the St. Francis of Assisi Church in Heerlen, in the south of the Netherlands, stopped hosting services in 2023, providing the municipality the opportunity to find another purpose for the building. A new pool in this national monument offers a solution for the increasing number of visitors to Heerlen’s existing pools, while giving the vacant building with its recognisable silhouette in the city centre a new lease of life.
In the design, an illuminated circular canopy marks the main entrance, providing a reference to the church’s past and a contemporary addition that connects old and new. Once inside, visitors can proceed through the church’s aisles to reach the changing rooms or the catering facility, both located at the rear of the church. Glass walls separate these passages from the climatised central pool space.
Old pulpit will serve as seat for a lifeguard
To make room for the swimming pool, the existing floor will be carefully removed. The church’s pews will be reused by incorporating them into the separating glass walls surrounding the pool, providing seats for the swimmers on one side, while serving as bar tables for spectators on the other side. The old pulpit is given a new function, serving as the seat for a lifeguard.
The pool floor has an adjustable bottom that can be raised and lowered, enabling different activities for swimmers of different ages and abilities. In its extreme position, the floor can be raised completely, hiding the pool beneath and reintroducing a completely flat floor so that the space can also be used for social and cultural activities. In addition, the entire pool area can be filled with a shallow layer of water. Combined with the right lighting, the church interior will be reflected in this shallow pool, and visitors will be able to “walk on water” inside the church.
“The vacancy rate of churches is increasing, so we need to come up with new, creative ideas for what we can do with these buildings”, says Winy Maas, founding partner of MVRDV. “Why not give these churches a social function again, as they used to have? A public swimming pool is ideally suited for this. Imagine: swimming the backstroke with a view of a church vault and stained glass windows. By covering the entire pool area with a small layer of water, you can also create a beautiful visual effect, allowing the church to return to its original form and appear even larger and more impressive through the reflection.”
A new mosaic floor will adorn both the pool surroundings and the adjustable pool floor. This will reference the existing colours,
materials, and stained glass windows of the church. The design for this floor will be made in collaboration with local artists as a reference to the many murals that Heerlen has to offer. The lighting above the pool is inspired by the original church lamps seen in historic photographs, with the four rows of lamps doubling as lane guides for the swimmers.
Creative methods to prevent heat loss
A particular challenge of the design was to be able to heat the pool space sufficiently and sustainably, while also protecting the historic materials from the humidity of the pool. To solve this, the glass walls surrounding the pool create a compartmentalising effect to protect the stained glass and the works of art. The roof of the church will be insulated from the outside, preventing excessive heat loss while maintaining the view of the original brickwork from the inside. After insulation, the existing roof covering will be put back in place. The wooden roof will be retained and fitted with soundabsorbing panels for better acoustics. The technical installations have been discreetly incorporated with air handling units in the basement. This approach ensures an energy efficient and comfortable indoor climate, while preserving the historical elements of the church as much as possible.
The design for Holy Water was created through a collaboration between MVRDV, Zecc Architecten, IMd Raadgevende Ingenieurs, Nelissen Ingenieursbureau and construction economics consultancy SkaaL. The first dive is expected to take place at the end of 2027.
For more than 60 years, our patented stainless-steel pool technology has helped create over 170 world records and millions of water-drenched smiles in communities worldwide. Faster to build, less expensive to operate, industry-leading 25-year warranty.
Refurbishment for a modern identity
Redevelopment, modernisation and expansion of the Wunnebad pool
The history of this popular destination for sports, swimming and leisure activities in the Winnenden region kicked off 100 years ago with the construction of an outdoor pool. The facility has been regularly upgraded over the years and, with the renovation and conversion work carried out in the early 1990s to become one of Germany’s first leisure pools, acquired its current status as the Wunnebad. Now, the structures, surrounding grounds and plant systems have been extensively refurbished and extended, with most of the work carried out while the facility remained open.
Germany
Winnenden lies right on the fringes of the Swabian Forest, framed by and gently embedded in a delightful landscape of vineyards and orchards. Forming the town’s western periphery, the attractive and verdant Zipfelbachtal valley is a defining feature of the local landscape.
The unique surroundings, the topographically landscaped grounds of the outdoor pool and the existing Wunnebad have been used to develop an iconic theme that reinforces the respectful interaction between old and new. The centrepiece of the new complex is the striking dome structure of the existing bathing hall. Clustering around this is a freely designed composition of sweeping roofs and organic structures, which playfully and effortlessly accommodate the various functional areas.
Essentially, the following measures have been taken during the current refurbishment:
• Design of a new, prestigious entrance foyer
• Repositioning and redesign of the summer changing rooms
• New premises for the outdoor pool refreshments
• New lifeguard tower
• Additional instruction pool with a variable depth floor for the existing bathing hall
• Redesign of the children’s area in the bathing hall
• Redesign of the sauna area with modern amenities
• Integration of refreshments to serve the bathing hall and sauna area
• New rooms for the facility’s offices
Unobstructed views as a welcoming gesture
The main entrance has been accentuated with a welcoming gesture. Under the unfussy roof edge of the first floor, the summer changing rooms and covered bicycle parking spaces are located to the west. Below the roof, between the inserted changing rooms and the foyer of the main building, there is an unobstructed view of the outdoor pool. From the forecourt passersby and walkers gain a glimpse inside the outdoor pool and are tempted by the lively atmosphere.
Visitors enter the new Wunnebad via the redesigned and reorganised foyer. On the ground floor, the basic structure of the existing building has been retained and only corrective interventions have been made to efficiently integrate the new functional units. The foyer offers views of the indoor and outdoor pools, as well as stylishly designed entrances to the changing rooms and sauna area. Easily finding their way throughout the facility, visitors disperse from here to their chosen activities. From the centrally located reception desk, staff have a good overview and can welcome visitors.
A modern ticketing system allows direct access to the outdoor pool from the forecourt. This ensures that the facility can also be used outside the foyer’s opening hours and helps to ease congestion on hot summer days.
Intelligent logistics solutions
Together with the outdoor pool refreshments area, the new summer changing rooms form the northern end of the outdoor pool area. The two structures form a single unit, connected to the main building by a sweeping roof. Accessible from the west and from the road to the north, the buildings offer additional space for storage and workshop areas, which were required for the outdoor pool. Deliveries to the outdoor pool refreshments are made directly from outside on the ground floor.
A new two storey lifeguard tower has been placed centrally in the outdoor pool. The ground floor houses storage areas and a toilet. The upper floor is accessed via an external staircase. From the top, the heated indoor room and the surrounding balcony offer a panoramic view.
Neater appearance
The main building leads directly into the domed hall via the refurbished and extended changing rooms and sanitary facilities. The centrepiece of the complex has been given a contemporary look thanks to careful treatment of the surfaces and the replacement of a few fixtures and fittings. The new instruction pool with its variable depth floor has been added to the existing structure to the south. This allows the separation of independent events. On the eastern side, the bathing hall extends into the hillside. This area provides storage space for internal use as well as for schools and clubs. To the west, the instruction pool faces the outdoor pool. The newly developed children’s area is located between the existing pool in the domed hall and the instruction pool. Compared to the previous layout, it has been moved closer to the facade and designed to be bright and inviting. The lifeguard’s room is located at the interface between the old and new buildings, enjoying an ideal view of all the indoor and outdoor pools.
Sauna area as an oasis of relaxation and recuperation
A broad staircase in the foyer leads to the upper floor, the sauna level that opens to the east into the extended and newly designed sauna garden. The pool offices are located in the north. The openplan kitchenette with a meeting table and the pool manager’s office look west towards the outdoor pool, giving staff a good view of the outdoor pool from the upper floor. The office area is supplemented with such staff facilities as changing rooms and store rooms. A connecting staircase to the service yard and plant area ensures short distances without visitors crossing paths.
The hairdryers and ticket machines are located between the foyer and the sauna changing rooms. From an openplan changing area, visitors access the sauna area, which is divided into a variety of spaces. In a stimulating interplay of open and closed spaces, the various areas create a fascinating and invigorating space for the senses. Different saunas, relaxation areas and a fireside lounge combine to create an atmospheric setting that reinterprets the concept of an oasis of relaxation and recuperation.
The refreshments area for the sauna area and indoor pool form a functional unit in the transition between the sauna landscape and the sauna garden, directly adjacent to the gallery of the domed hall. Deliveries are conveniently made from outside.
The sauna facilities are complemented by an outdoor sauna with an anteroom and showers, which blends harmoniously into the terraced design of the sauna garden. The design allows for the future addition of many more sauna buildings.
The interplay of all the structural and landscaping measures creates an exciting dialogue between interior and exterior. Horizontal roof lines at different heights, projecting to provide protection from the rain and sun, enhance the Mediterranean atmosphere. Each area has its own clearly defined purpose. The successful implementation of all the architectural ideas has given the Wunnebad a modern identity.
Author: Behnisch Architekten
Photos: David Matthiessen Fotografie
1. Foyer
Hair dryer station
Administration
Domed hall
Toddlers‘ pool 6. Training pool
Restaurant
Sauna garden
1. Forecourt
2. Foyer
3. Changing rooms 4. Domed hall
5. Toddlers‘ pool 6. Training pool
7. Lifeguard tower 8. Summer changing rooms
9. Outdoor pool café 10. Storage areas
Wunnebad Winnenden Ground floor plan
Wunnebad Winnenden Longitudinal and cross section
Largest leisure centre designed to passivhaus standards in the UK
Eclipse Leisure Centre in Staines-upon-Thames
The largest of its kind and the first 50:50 wet & dry leisure centre to be designed by GT3 to Passivhaus standards in the UK, Eclipse exemplifies excellence in sustainable, communityorientated design. The centre, which officially opened in October 2024, has raised the bar for low-carbon sport and leisure facilities, blending a people architecture approach with industry-leading Passivhaus design techniques.
OPENING: OCTOBER 2024
Location Staines uponThames, United Kingdom
Client/operator
Spelthorne Borough Council
In 2020, it became apparent that Eclipse could play a leading role in meeting Spelthorne Borough Council’s net zero ambitions. In collaboration with fellow architects Gale & Snowden, GT3 revised the original design for Eclipse to meet the rigorous standards required for Passivhaus certification. Bringing Passivhaus specialists Gale & Snowden into the design team at this stage was imperative, and they brought a level of expertise and lessonslearned that supported both the final design, and technical delivery team.
Currently awaiting certification from the Passivhaus Institute, Eclipse is expected to save up to 50 to 60 % in typical operational energy usage, and up to 40 % in comparable water usage.
Designing for Passivhaus in a leisure environment
Mapping complex technical requirements to such a large and mixed wet & dry leisure typology was an exciting challenge, and one which pushed GT3 to look at new, better approaches and design techniques. Over 500 drawings were produced, and highly controlled standards and communication structures were put in place to ensure the design would meet rigorous Passivhaus standards.
The centre’s design uses orientation, glazing ratios, internal thermal zones layout, low energy services, and optimised heat recovery processes to move energy between zones. A highperforming thermal envelope and well designed thermal bridging details preserves the building fabric, insulating the building and reducing the high energy demands typically associated with leisure centres. The building layout and facility mix were purposefully orientated to maximise solar gains, and plant rooms were dispersed throughout the facility to directly service the relevant areas with minimal energy loss.
These techniques not only deliver significant operational energy savings but also address comfort and overheating issues often faced within local leisure centres, including condensation, mould, and significant shifts in humidity, temperature and air quality between the numerous wet, dry, social and transitional environments.
Eclipse is set to deliver savings of up to 50 to 60 % in typical operational energy usage, up to 40 % in comparable water usage, and has received one of the highest performing air tightness scores in the world for comparable leisure facilities, offering a 90 % improvement on standard regulations. Throughout the facility, the use of grey water harvesting, and globally sourced low waterusage toilets, sinks, and showers add further water savings. The use of a hybrid crosslaminated timber struc ture amongst many other low carbon and waterusage product choices sourced from around the globe has also supported a 30 % improvement on total embodied carbon, based on LETI (Low Energy Transformation Initiative) standard guidance.
Blending people architecture with Passivhaus technicalities
Sitting within a constrained site, Eclipse adopts a stacked approach to maximise the available 9,000 m², including rooftop synthetic turf pitches and community gardens.
The exterior to the pool hall features large windows, providing an active frontage and visual links to the adjacent parkland, complemented internally through muted materials, soft colour palettes, and a focus on the bespoke cross-laminated timber soffits and exposed Glulam beams. Brick colonnades and spandrel panels ensure user privacy, whilst offering a strategic design transition between the fully open pavilionstyle entrance and social space, and the internally facing dry facilities towards the rear of the building.
Orientated absolutely due south to meet the maximum solar gains for the site, Eclipse’s pool hall is a true blend of people architecture design and the rigorous technicalities of Passivhaus. An innovative microfiltration system removes contaminants from the water, reducing the levels of chlorine required. This technology not only reduces operational energy but also makes swimming far more accessible for those with skin or breathing conditions, meeting a key requirement of early stakeholder engagement sessions.
Mixture between active and relax areas
The wet areas include an 8 lane pool with a 250 seat gallery, a separate learner pool with fullwidth self depositing steps, and a kids splash zone, a steam room and a sauna offer relaxation.
The ‘dry’ sports programme offers a 6 court sports hall with 200 spectator seats, three flexible squash courts designed to allow for singles and doubles, and a clip’n’climb interactive climbing wall.
The fitness area includes two physio consulting rooms, a 200 station fitness suite, three studio rooms (including spin), and one softplay area.
Up to 100 guests can enjoy the large café. On the rooftop, dedicated community gardens invite to gather while watching the activity on the four synthetic pitches.
Smart layout facilitates key programme changes
Thermal separation between the learner pool, main pool and changing village is achieved through bespoke glazed screens and automated sliding doors, ensuring individual spaces remain at optimum temperature and comfort levels, without additional energy expenditure. Clear sightlines to all wetleisure areas have been designed into the layout, including the purposeful reorientating of cubicles and shower facilities, to enable passive surveillance and improved safeguarding.
Optional privacy screens and a moveable floor within the learner pool offers muchneeded flexibility and facilitates key programme changes, including school visits, water sports, singlesex groups, aqua fitness, and baby and toddler sessions. The splashpad is appropriate for children aged 0 9, supporting social, cognitive, physical and creative skillsbuilding and providing a safe space for caregivers with young children. Two additional dry sidefacing group changing rooms have been incorporated to offer school groups streamlined and private access to the pool.
Author:
Katie Forrest
Photos: GT3 Architects, Kristen McCluskie
Blend of nostalgic elements with highest environmental sustainability
Expansion of Carnegie Memorial Swimming Pool
Located in a suburb of Melbourne, Australia, the Carnegie Memorial Swimming Pool, a cornerstone of the local community since 1966, has been reimagined to preserve its historic essence while introducing modern amenities so that the entire community may enjoy and benefit from year-round aquatic recreation and sport. The expanded facility includes indoor pools, sauna, spa, consulting suites, café, and program rooms, housed within a re-envisioned red-brick structure – a low, lean mass, buried to feel like a single-level building rather than a “big box”. Designed to blend with its parkland and residential surroundings, the new facility integrates sustainable features and has achieved the highest Green Star design review score for an aquatic centre in Australia to date.
OPENING: JANUARY 2025
The design process began with a series of community engagement sessions which, while acknowledging the brief, sought to establish from locals and patrons what the project should contribute to the site and the legacy of the place. This group consisted of residents and reserve users and sought feedback across age groups and backgrounds.
Later in the design stages, the project was reviewed by Heritage Victoria to ensure that the approach to place and use of site was considered and appropriate. Heritage Victora were supportive of the proposal for the site, and in the broader context of public outdoor swimming pools built following the Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games.
The design prioritised retaining the „soul“ of the original pool, including its redbrick aesthetic and beloved grassy hill, while introducing yearround accessibility through the addition of indoor pools with movable floors, a warm water pool, spa, sauna, flexible dry program spaces, consulting suites, and a café.
Tripling the size of the built footprint
The Carnegie Memorial Swimming Pool site is central to a recreational reserve and parkland and surrounded by residential streets that the existing small redbrick pavilion blended well with. Despite more than tripling the size of the built footprint, the new longer, taller built form achieves the same sense of integration, with densely planted mounding allowing a detailed redbrick mass to express as a low, horizontal element. This mounding facilitates exceptional thermal insulation and increased biodiversity, softening the transition between built form and open space.
Key features of the original pool were retained or adapted in the new design, including the position of the building, dive pool and grassy hill, which were highly valued by the local community. These features allow users to experience the spatial arrangement of the original facility, a journey through a compressed entry with immediate access to the outdoor pools and the grassy hill beyond, and a short journey along the outdoor concourse to the change rooms.
Other elements that honour the legacy of the original facility include brickwork cladding, saw cut patterns in the concrete concourse, stone facings on retaining walls, pool tiling colours, a themed kids slide and 1950s inspired metal truss work.
Finding answers for climate challenges
For the next phase of Carnegie Memorial Swimming Pool’s life, the provision of shade was crucial and has been achieved in partnership with structural engineering and landscaping; considering future tree canopies, permanent umbrellas, shelters, shade structures that seem to float above the splash pad. Many of these shade structures have provided an opportunity to further integrate 1950sinspired architectural truss work where possible. During the design process, the design team came across drawings for small structures which were never realised as part of the original development and adapted these as shade structures for the reimagined pool.
Notably, structural engineering for the columns supporting the shade structure spanning the 50m pool needed to consider the integration of the loads while interacting with the pool shell. Acoustic engineering is another technical feat, successfully attenuating the noisy all electric heat pump systems in proximity to nervous residents and hiding these structures from view almost completely.
Carnegie Memorial Swimming Pool has achieved a ‘6 Star Green Star‘ design rating and the highest score in Australia for an aquatic centre to date, highlighting the project’s commitment to environmental sustainability through all electric operation powered by a 240KVA solar array, biodiversity, and exemplary thermal insulation. A design score of 85 points –well above the 70 point minimum required for a 6 Star rating –was successfully achieved. Council and the design team aimed to exceed the minimum threshold, pushing the facility’s sustainability performance to a nationally leading level. Notably, this was accomplished within the client’s budget and program constraints.
Key environmental sustainability aspects of the project include:
• All electric facility
• Clean, fresh, healthy indoor environments
• Highperformance acoustic comfort
• Excellent lighting quality from daylighting and electric systems
• Sustainable material selections with low environmental impact and indoor environment impact
• Highly efficient water use
• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by use of onsite and off site renewable energy
• Reduced urban heatisland effect with judicious landscaping and planting
This reimagined facility strategically blends nostalgic elements with contemporary needs to create a highperforming space that serves to improve and enhance the health and wellbeing of its local community. Strengthening multigenerational connections within the community has also been a big focus for the redeveloped pool, with learnto swim, warmwater wellness, and interconnected outdoor spaces playing an important part in the health and wellbeing of the local community, drawing in young and old alike, and inviting them to find their favourite space to be active.
Author: CO.OP Studio, Photos: Tom Roe
Clarity and elegance
Sprudelhof Therme (thermal spa)
The Sprudelhof Therme, which opened in December 2023, is part of the overall urban development plan for the Sprudelhof district and is the largest investment project in Bad Nauheim’s history. The entire complex consists of the new spa building, the new spa hotel, the refurbished Bathhouse 2 and an underground car park. With its simple yet elegant architecture, the thermal spa blends seamlessly into the historic and important Art Nouveau ensemble. The new spa welcomes visitors with a varied bathing environment and views of the spa gardens.
OPENING: DECEMBER 2023
Location Bad Nauheim, Germany
Client City Administration of Bad Nauheim, represented by the Magistrate
Operator Sprudelhof Therme GmbH
Architects and General Planner blfp planungs gmbh www.blfp.de
Building physics consulting Kurz & Fischer GmbH, www.kurzfischer.de
Total costs EUR 47 million
Bad Nauheim is a spa town in the Wetterau district of Hesse with a population of around 33,000. It is located around 30 km north of Frankfurt am Main, on the eastern fringe of the Taunus mountains. The town’s history is strongly influenced by salt mining, and the salt works in Bad Nauheim were among the most modern and largest facilities of their kind in Europe.
Spa activities have played an important role here for around 150 years. The first brine bathing facility, known as Bathhouse 1, opened in 1835. After the building of the spa resort and spa gardens in the 1850s, Nauheim was granted the title of ‘Bad’ meaning ‘spa’. At the beginning of the 20th century, six further bathhouses, spa facilities, the Sprudelhof and the drinking spa were built as part of an overall urban development plan. Salt extraction ceased in
1959, but the remaining graduation towers, which dominate the skyline, are still used today for inhalation therapy.
The first modern thermal bathing facility open all year round was built in 1972 in the immediate vicinity of the historic bathhouses. Due to its outdated technology and increasing corrosion, operational problems increased significantly from the turn of the millennium. Modernising the existing building was deemed uneconomical. The reinforced concrete building was closed on 30 December 2015 and completely demolished in 2018/19. After intensive deliberations, work on the preliminary design for its replacement started in November 2018 and the first sketches were put on to paper. The new building’s inauguration was celebrated on schedule five years later.
Elegant clarity
The twostorey bathing hall has a consistently square, structural grid, with supporting columns visible on all facades, forming a columned hall. This square grid, already a defining feature of the historic bathhouses, is reiterated in the finishing details and culminates in the spectacular, lightflooded ‘cube ceiling’. The glazed main facades and the slender, widely projecting canopy on a further row of supports combine the lightness of modern facade design with a templelike appearance.
Inside, the bathing deck – the functional centrepiece with doubleheight ceilings – is separated from the other areas on two levels by another row of columns. The resulting arcadelike gallery also marks the main traffic routes and paths for visitors.
The urban elegance of the design is primarily attributable to the interplay between the transparent main hall building and the podiumlike, opaque structures housing the changing rooms, kitchen and administrative areas. Rooted in the dualism of the hall and podium is an elegant clarity that infuses the building right down to the minutest details.
The socalled wave wall is unique. Users on their way to the changing rooms walk parallel to the main axis of the Sprudelhof towards the bathhouses. The windows in the wave wall are set at an angle so that the view is directed towards the historic buildings. To compensate for this offset, the solid reinforced concrete walls between the windows are rounded. This creates a wave motion in the series of windows, allowing different perspectives and views depending on the directions in which people are walking.
Pool water treatment
The thermal brine in Bad Nauheim is extracted from an artesian well in the Sprudelhof. After undergoing dearsenification in one of the neighbouring bathhouses, it is piped to the thermal baths. It contains many natural components, which are removed in a complex pretreatment process to eliminate any adverse effects in the pools and during treatment.
The pool water is treated in accordance with the requirements of the respective pools and the operating conditions specified in DIN 19643. Bad Nauheim thermal brine and municipal drinking water are used as filling water for the treatment plants. All cold filling and makeup water is preheated by the continuous drain via a heat recovery system. All electric motors of the pumps are equipped with modern permanent magnet motors.
The concentrated brine pool is supplied with graduated thermal water. The thermal water is concentrated via the graduation towers by evaporating water, thereby raising the salt content. It goes without saying that this water is made suitable for use by thorough purification.
Service water preparation
The water for the thermal baths is heated on the continuousflow principle. Cold drinking water is heated via a heat exchanger and fed to the taps as hot drinking water. The primary energy required to heat the drinking water is provided on the heating side in a stratified storage tank/heating buffer. The size of the stratified storage tank on the heating side is such that sufficient heat energy is available to satisfy continuous hot water demand as well as peaks in hot water demand. A high buffer temperature (7590 ° Celsius) is also maintained for this purpose.
The drinking water in Bad Nauheim has an overall hardness of 12.1°dH (German hardness). The drinking water for the thermal baths is softened for use in the sanitary facilities by a water softening system. The makeup water for the pool water system is fed in upstream of the water softening system so that this large flow does not pass through it. A separate system has been installed for the kitchen facilities.
Ventilation system
Required for the thermal spa are mechanical ventilation systems dimensioned and designed in line with generally accepted technical standards. The ventilation systems are assigned to different zones with different room temperatures to ensure that each zone can be operated at an optimum heat recovery rate.
Each of the conditioning systems is equipped with an internal heat recuperator. The heat recovery rate here is at least 73%. The air volumes in each zone are pressureneutral. This means that the volumes of air supplied and discharged are equal. However, a slight pressure difference is maintained in the bathing hall and adjacent zones for ease of operation and comfort.
Ticketing and operating systems for the creation of pricing zones
The ticketing system is a central element for the operational and cost effective running of the bathing facility, with the corresponding pricing zones and division into distinct user areas. So that the thermal spa can be run cost effectively and flexibly, it is necessary to create separate pricing zones with different pricing structures for the various accounting areas. Users can select these pricing zones via the turnstiles and the associated transponder readers and book the services they wish.
Heat generating systems
A central heating system with combined heat and power (CHP) and district heating has been installed to provide the necessary heat. The CHP unit covers base load, while the district heating covers peak loads. All the electricity generated by the CHP unit is used in the thermal spa. In addition to the thermal baths, Bathhouse 2 is connected to the local heating network. A future hotel building has also been taken into account in the dimensioning.
Control via building management system
The central control system with the data points for all essential technical systems enables the regulation of individual operating conditions such as temperature or rpm and the retrieval and display of operating conditions in a diagram or table. All faults are reported to the building management system and important fault messages are forwarded to a receiver.
The most important data points are transferred to an external energy management system via an interface using the BACnet protocol. This is where evaluations are continuously carried out to support operation as efficiently as possible.
In August 2024, Germany’s first surf park, O 2 SURFTOWN MUC, opened in Hallbergmoos, near Munich Airport. The surf park is a sporting, social and technical marvel that sets new stand ards in sports and leisure architecture. The project unites advanced technology, sustainability principles and the flexible use of space to create a versatile facility that appeals to both professional and recreational surfers.
The aim of the project is to enable this Olympic sport to be practised under ideal training and competition conditions even at locations where there is no coast nearby. The centrepiece of the facility is a 10,000 m² pool with an impressive length of 180 m. The water depth is 2.65 m, decreasing towards the edge of the pool. A pneumatic chamber system converts overpressure into wave energy, permitting the generation of precisely programmed waves ranging in height from 30 cm to over 2 m.
OPENING: 2024
Location Hallbergmoos, Germany
Client / Operator
Surftown GmbH, www.surftown.de
Architects
Maisch Wolf Architekten, www.maisch wolf.de
Pool
Myrtha Pools, A&T Europe S.p.A, www.myrthapools.com
Wave technology
Endless Surf, www.endlesssurf.com
Reception building in the shape of a breaking wave
O2 SURFTOWN MUC was developed as a landscaped ensemble and is divided into three areas: at the centre is the 180 metrelong surf pool, to the south is the wave generator building, and to the north lies the reception building – a wooden structure modelled on the shape of a breaking wave designed by Maisch Wolf Architekten. In addition to the reception, surf shop and restaurant, a multifunctional event area has also been integrated here.
Curving in all directions, the wooden structure‘s shell is approximately 135 metres long, rests on Vshaped supports and merges into the terrain at its narrow ends. Here, visitors can access the green roof of the building via a walkway and are rewarded with spectacular views of the surfers. The changing rooms, plant and storage areas are located in the basement of the reception building, where surfboards and wetsuits can also be hired. All levels are accessible and interlinked via an external lift.
Above the lift is the wave operator tower, from where all wave functions in the pool are monitored and controlled by computer. On the upper floor, just above pool level, there is a spacious terrace with an outdoor bar. On hot summer days, textile parasols create a beach and beer garden atmosphere.
The perfect wave
The combinations of wave chambers and pool shape enable waves to be configured individually, resulting in consistent, predictable conditions. This is precisely the decisive advantage over natural waves influenced by wind and currents, especially during competitions.
Athletes don‘t have to wait for the perfect wave here; they just have to set it off. Thanks to the flexible settings, both longboard and shortboard sessions can be practised to perfection, making it easier to organise competitions and dramatically improving equality of opportunity for all participants.
O2 SURFTOWN MUC serves as a training facility for the German Surfing Association and can accommodate 56 athletes in water simultaneously who can train here all year round. In addition, the facility hosted the German Surfing Championships in October 2024, where more than 100 athletes showcased their skills to 10,000 spectators.
Four individually programmable surf zones
The pool builder‘s expertise and experience in designing and constructing large free form pools, combined with the wave generation specialist‘s know how, made this groundbreaking, nextgeneration surfing lagoon possible.
The centrepiece of the facility is the patented heartshaped pool, which can serve up to four different surf zones simultaneously. Each zone can be programmed individually, allowing waves to be generated for different skill levels during a single session. Beginners ride gentle, uniform waves, while experienced surfers tackle steep barrels up to 2.10 m high or spectacular air sections. Depending on the configuration, the maximum ride time can be up to 18 seconds – a figure that even many ocean waves cannot match.
Precisely controlled waves
The technology used in the facility is based on 34 pneumatic wave chambers. In a frame mode, the waves break simultaneously from the centre of the pool to the left and right, while in point break mode, the waves run along the entire length of the pool, allowing a wavelength of up to 18 seconds.
The system uses dependable pneumatic technology that generates waves via 34 pneumatic chambers. These chambers can be precisely controlled, enabling the simulation of a wide variety of wave types. It is particularly worth noting that the wave frequency can be flexibly adjusted from 10 to over 16 seconds. This creates sets that feel almost like the real ocean – with the crucial difference that, here, every wave is predictable, safe and individually repeatable.
The technology is designed to be not only highperformance but also easy to maintain. All systems are located outside the pool, which simplifies maintenance and makes ongoing operation efficient. Flexible operation is possible even at low capacity, making the system economically attractive.
Varied recreational offering
The facility‘s architectural design is versatile, innovative and functional. In addition to the central surf pool, the area includes a surf skate ramp, a children‘s playground, a beach area with sunbathing areas and a restaurant. This versatility makes O2 SURFTOWN MUC a lively venue where sport, recreation and social interaction come together.
O2 SURFTOWN MUC was designed with today‘s sustainability requirements in mind. It is powered entirely by green electricity, up to 80 per cent of which comes from its own photovoltaic panels and a nearby solar park. The energy for heating and cooling comes from geothermal sources combined with heat pumps, while the water supply is provided by a circulation system using groundwater and rainwater.
Skilled staff ensure safety
The level of staffing required in wave operations varies depending on the participants‘ surfing ability. In the most popular combination of advanced a-frame sessions and simultaneous firsttimer sessions, six skilled surf coaches are on duty at the same time. The team is supplemented by a wave operator, who controls and monitors the wave machine, and two lifeguards to ensure safety in the pool.
Both surf coaches and lifeguards are highly skilled, with qualifications ranging from Level 1 surf coach wave pool certification and internationally recognised ISA Level 1 and 2 surf coach licences to Silver lifeguard badges.
The refurbishment of Georges Vallerey swimming pool in the 20th arrondissement of Paris is a complex redevelopment project. Led by AIA Life Designers, the modernisation project had reconciled two major objectives: adapting the building to contemporary uses and restor ing a monument of architectural and sporting heritage.
Built in 1924 for the Summer Olympics, the swimming hall staging swimming, diving and water polo, was overhauled in 1986 by architect Roger Taillibert. He added an innovative sliding roof, modernised the 21metrewide and 50 metrelong competition pool and redesigned the concrete facades. The ‘island building’ was enclosed by eight staircase towers, the pool by narrow walkways and grandstands on all four sides. A century later, the ageing swimming pool had to be remodelled as it was intended for use as a training facility (swimming, marathon swimming and triathlon) during the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
Careful dismantling of the wooden roof frame
Construction work kicked off in September 2022 with a fourmonth clear-up and cleaning phase in certain areas of the building and wrapped up in March 2024. Damaged elements such as tiles and partition walls were removed. In January 2023, preparations began for dismantling the pool‘s existing roof frame and erecting scaffolding on the stands. The latter served as a work platform for the cleaning of the upper elements such as the gutters, lighting fixtures, ventilation system and steel structure, which was treated with rust protection and painted white. Damage to the concrete posts and beams was repaired as necessary, and leaky pool gutters were replaced. A protection net was then suspended beneath the curved roof so that it could be dismantled and the roof covering (of polycarbonate sheets) and wooden frame removed.
An essential feature of the project‘s architectural design, the sliding roof, a true innovation that enables swimmers to enjoy fresh air and natural light, has been completely restored.
Another challenge was to create pleasant and safe reception and circulation areas in line with current hygiene and accessibility standards.
Sustainable construction
In order to meet the objectives of cost effective construction, an upcycling process was employed. Each beam of the roof frame was dismantled, removed from the site and delivered to the workshop of a timber construction specialist, who selected elements for reuse. At a carpenter‘s, some of the wood was used to make furniture for the entrance hall (reception desk) and the hall (benches), as well as support elements for displays. Concurrently, the timber construction specialist prepared the twelve arches and various purlins for the new supporting structure of the sliding roof in the workshop. These are made of Douglas fir glulam sourced from eco certified forests in the Vosges and Jura mountains, which was transported by truck and assembled on site.
During the refurbishment of the hall, the lighting, acoustics and reception area were also upgraded. Finally, as part of the modernisation, the building services were brought up to date, particularly with regard to water and air treatment, to ensure a healthy and pleasant environment and sustainable resource use.
Pool relocated for ease of maintenance
One of the special features of the structure is the above-ground location of the pool, which is accessible from the second floor. This means that it can be inspected from the lower level and is easier to maintain.
Access to the stands extending along both sides of the pool (east and west) and over two floors is on the third floor. Traffic routing within the building was a key consideration to ensure troublefree circulation for visitors and staff.
Finally, the building‘s facade was partially renovated and repainted. The main concrete facade was simply cleaned.
The refurbishment of Georges Vallerey swimming pool has respectfully combined cultural heritage with functionality to give Parisian residents an attractive and highperformance sports and leisure facility.
Author: AIA Life Designers - architectes
Photos: AIA Life Designers - architectes / H. Hebrard
Graphic: AIA Life Designers - architectes / G. Satre
Athlete
Bathing pleasure in a forest clearing
Modernisation of Waldbad Zimmeregg (forest lido) in Lucerne
The refurbishment of Zimmeregg forest lido included a totally new entrance area, two new service buildings, the replacement of the leaky pools, a gentle redesign of the outdoor areas and the opening-up of the play area for enjoyable visits to the forest clearing all year round.
OPENING: MAY 2024
Location Lucerne, Switzerland
Client / Operator
City of Lucerne, Immobilien Baumanagement Architects
Costruction costs CHF 14.3 million (EUR 14.6 million)
Brechbuehler Walser Architekten GmbH
The forest lido was built in 1967 in an idyllic forest clearing on the Zimmeregg hill above Lucerne. Over time, however, the facility, parts of which had been rebuilt and extended in the meantime, began to show increasing signs of wear and tear. In addition, the pools were in urgent need of renovation due to leaks and pollution, and the outdated pool equipment required replacement.
Following public intervention, the town council decided on a complete refurbishment to preserve the forest lido for future generations, make it attractive, ensure its longterm operation and reduce the high operating and maintenance costs.
Modernisation creates all-year offering
To enhance the unique character of the lido in the midst of the forest clearing, the entire setting underwent a fundamental re evaluation. The original idea of bathing in a forest clearing was reinstated by simplifying the layout of the various areas and carefully rearranging them. To this end, the existing attractions were modernised, repositioned and supplemented where necessary. It was not possible to retain the operationally inefficient service building, so it was replaced by a wooden structure elsewhere in the form of a forest cabin with a wide overhanging roof. This shortened the steep access to the forest lido and repurposed the space between the bathing lawn and the playground.
A further aim was to improve the quality of the clearing as a recreational area throughout the year and to supplement it with new amenities. To this end, the previously fenced off grassed play area in the west was completely opened up and the originally necessary access bridge was removed. The forest clearing is now an attractive destination all year round, with barbecue areas and facilities for play and sport. The forest clearing was also freed in passing from disruptive infrastructure, thus restoring its natural character.
Intensive project planning
Planning the project in the middle of the forest proved highly elaborate for a number of reasons. For reasons of sustainability, as many components as possible were retained, as the existing pools and plant rooms would no longer have been eligible for reapproval due to the regulations governing distances from the forest.
The goal of retaining existing elements, the operational requirements and the need for the safe handling of chemicals led to detailed consideration of the legal requirements and compromises with the authorities involved.
When replacing the pools with chrome steel, the planning team attached great importance to the architectural design of the offset pool edge. The pool edge was made of blasted monolithic concrete to conceal the technically required overflow channel (and any channel grilles) and was designed to
blend in with the forest clearing. Additional planning work and innovations were necessary to win over operators, authorities and contractors for this particular feature. Replacing the pool equipment, including the entire pipework on the sloping terrain, also proved to be highly challenging.
Overall, it took a great deal of care and dedication from everyone involved to define requirements and develop suitable customised solutions while complying with a wide range of specifications in order to design a system that works just as efficiently with a single visitor as it does with a maximum of 3,000. This applies to the outdoor area with seating, showers and emergency calling points, as well as the entire pool equipment, the simple uninsulated wooden pavilions with revolving and sliding doors, the three sided catering area and the wayfinding system.
Authors: Brechbuehler Walser Architekten GmbH
Photos: Andreas Buschmann
Infinity pool on the river Seine
‘ANNETTE K.’ floating swimming pool and gym
Floating on the river Seine, ‘ANNETTE K.’ is a sports centre and aquatic complex with an Olympic-size swimming pool, solarium, physiotherapy, balneotherapy, locker rooms, sauna, coffee shop, terrace and panoramic restaurant. Architecture firm SEINE DESIGN’s idea was to create a vibrant space dedicated to the well-being of body and mind.
Paris was in sore need of a space for swimming and sunbathing reminiscent of the longlost Deligny swimming pool or the dreamy water scenes from the Impressionist era. The proximity to the Seine, swimming, sunbathing and enjoying the space and the day – that was the idea behind the project.
The location is one of eight in Paris for ‘reinventing’ the river Seine proposed by the city in 2017 and was expected to include
the second swimming pool in Paris – the first one being ‘Josephine Baker’ moored east of Paris. The French capital requested a venue dedicated to swimming, sport, health and conviviality. SEINE DESIGN provided the full design, architecture and engineering, and oversight of the project. Construction of the hull started in 2020 at the shipyard in Dieppe and was completed on the Port of Javel in Paris. The facility opened to the public in October 2022.
OPENING: OCTOBER 2022
Location
Paris, France
Client
Surface
Construction
With exterior dimensions (110 m x 15 m) defined by the public bodies of the Port of Paris, and the height determined by the bridges, the building is a simple parallelpiped volume with three levels:
• The main deck, at the same level as the pier, houses the main entrance, lobby, restaurant, lockers, and sports and weights hall
• The upper deck accommodates the 50 m long pool with sundecks and a large workout area
• The hull accommodates the plant rooms, logistics, more sports rooms and a night club
The Olympicsize swimming pool and the sports & health wellbeing centre are designed to be continuous and generous spaces allowing different types of activities to take place simultaneously from morning to evening.
The idea of a heated outdoor pool open allyear round reinforces the feeling of being outside, embracing the elements like swimming in the rain or during freezing winter nights, with a minimum of enclosed spaces in the terrace rooftop. Encircling the terrace floor, a running track creates a dynamic ring around the building, providing a thinness of the edge line and a 360° view. The building draws a fluid line on the horizon of green trees and white buildings on the right river bank.
Inclusive experience across all facilities
A spa and physiotherapist spaces in the hull complete the programme provided by ‘ANNETTE K.’ Particular attention has been paid to welcoming all forms of disability, working with experts in disabled sports and adapted sports, also for the experience and access to the swimming pool.
Echoing shipbuilding aesthetic
The hull, windows and partitioning – everything is made of steel, and stainless steel was used for the pool and railings. The choice of materials (wood, steel and glass) reinforces the shipbuilding aesthetic. No concrete, no plaster.
Respecting the environment
It was obvious that the city river bank was the boundary, with a natural environment to be protected. Floating is the key in terms of low impact and sustainability. For reduction of energy consumption, efficient combined heating and cooling pumps provide warmth and cold at the same time, with high efficiency. Vacuum systems manage the reduction of water consumption.
Outdoor pool as the centrepiece
The pool is the very heart of the floating building, like an instrument in its case. The suspended pool seems to be placed on the barge like the hull of a fullsize boat. Its flexible structure is completely independent of the pontoon and can be adjusted as needed to meet perfect straightness and perfect horizontality –as if it were an infinity pool.
The pool of stainless steel has been imagined as dualfunction – being an Olympicsize pool from the top and serving as the ceiling of the spaces of the main deck, locker rooms, entrance, restaurant, and sports hall from below. This solution has made it possible to liberate all the spaces imagined as the background to the various activities that can be carried out during the day.
Water can be perceived through the portholes admitting daylight, combined with the reflections of the Seine. The sun shines in from all sides. The water reflections radiate, creating visual effects similar those of Impressionist paintings.
The structure evokes the image of spiderlike legs. There are no false ceilings or raised floors. Everything is exposed, even the piping connections to the plant room in the hull. The plant room can be visited, so that everyone understands each system. The pool’s heating system efficiently warms the spaces in the lower decks.
Author: SEINE DESIGN, photos: Sergio Grazia
Caldea reopens its great lagoon completely renovated
Fluidra introduces new aquatic and sensorial narrative
Caldea, the largest thermal leisure centre in southern Europe, is celebrating its 30th anniversary. The New Caldea project includes updating the thermal areas, changing the décor of the restaurant areas, modifying the landscaping, introducing new attractions, and culminating in the opening of a new hotel in 2026. Fluidra is in charge of transforming the two iconic lagoons (indoor and outdoor) into a hybrid space between wellness and entertainment.
In this first phase, the company reopens its large central lagoon after a comprehensive refurbishment process that has given it a more minimalist and modern look that resembles a natural mountain lake. The new lagoon features new landscaped relaxation areas with matching furniture and local vegetation that provide a fresh and welcoming atmosphere. At night, it is transformed into a starry sky thanks to an innovative and energy efficient decorative lighting system.
Design is the thread that connects landscape, ecology, architecture, and art. For this reason, the relationship between nature and human creation blends harmony and beauty. The revitalisation of Caldea‘s spaces is based on establishing a fluid relationship between the user and the environment. Led by DATA Arquitectura, this architectural vision is achieved through the use of soft materials and textures, delicate shapes, harmonious colours, nature and, above all, water, which is the main focus of the project.
Positioning the complex as a benchmark in immersive aquatic spaces
Fluidra’s intervention, divided into different phases, combined the renovation of existing elements with the installation of new hydraulic, scenic and filtration systems.
The indoor central lagoon is the heart of the thermal centre and is designed to provide a family oriented experience. The project includes the renovation of existing elements and new effects designed to create a spectacle and bring life to the interior of the lagoon.
In the initial phases, Fluidra renovated key hydraulic components of the lagoon basin, such as overflows, pipes, impulsion connections and bottom drains to improve the current installation and operation of the lagoon. On the other hand, the water effects have been expanded and improved, enhancing the flow
and illumination. The whirligigs and swan necks have been polished, while the piano waterfall has been restored to maximize its ornamental effect. In addition, high efficiency pumps have been introduced, optimizing the energy consumption of the entire system.
The incorporation of the new stage or dry deck fountain within the interior lagoon consists of a platform, partially submerged, that allows for a variety of uses. It can function as a children‘s playground area and, also, be transformed into a stage for water, light and sound shows. The fountain integrates interactive effects with LED chromatic variations and a laminar flow that contributes to the feeling of magic and surprise. This proposal has been designed not only from a technical point of view, but also to broaden the scenic appeal of the centre to diverse audiences and generate a coherent and immersive aquatic narrative.
More works to follow
The following phases will bring a higher level of spectacularity and leisure elements to the indoor lagoon. The project will be reinforced with the installation of the remaining show elements and hydromassage effects.
The aim is to enhance the spectacle with water jets and lighting. All the existing cups will also be refurbished, with new interiors and hydromassage effects to increase its capacity. This work will also include two new effects: perimeter waterfalls on two pools and a central foam spout, both intended to create a more complete experience inside the lagoon.
Outdoor lagoon to be more open
The concept of the outdoor lagoon is completely opposite to that of the interior space, opting for a more open space without so many water effects. The renovation of the outdoor lagoon includes hydromassage beds made of EPS with stainless steel nozzles and the renovation of the piping system with turbo
pumps and new siphons to guarantee stable operation.
Immerse in the world of water
Another potential proposal involves the complex‘s lobby, which now welcomes visitors with a circular water curtain to anticipate the sensory experience that takes place inside. The idea is to include a shallow basin that will collect the water coming from the curtain and a new cascade to immerse the user in the world of water from the very first moment.
With this action, Fluidra has combined engineering, design and technology to offer Caldea a new visual and sensorial narrative focused on water: an exemplary intervention where technique is put at the service of the experience.
Author: FLUIDRA, www.fluidra.com/commercial-solutions Images: Caldea, DATA Arquitectura
Successful renovation and expansion
Buchen indoor swimming pool in Speicher shines anew
The Buchen indoor swimming pool located in the idyllic municipality of Speicher (AR) has been a vital part of the regional infrastructure since its construction in 1978. To meet increased needs, the municipality initiated a comprehensive renovation and expansion project. For the demanding task of overall planning and construction management (SIA Phases 21-53), the municipality entrusted the proven expertise of Beck Schwimmbadbau AG (BSB), based in Winterthur.
As general planner, BSB brought its many years of experience and comprehensive knowhow to all phases of the project, from the initial analysis of the existing structure to the development of innovative concepts, detailed execution planning, and precise coordination of the numerous trades. The close and cooperative collaboration with the municipality of Speicher formed the basis for an optimal result.
The goal of the overall renovation was ambitious: in addition to increasing the attractiveness of the pool, the sustainable improvement of the technical equipment was a key focus. Particular attention was paid to creating new offerings for families, especially the addition of a modern toddler’s pool. This new highlight was planned and designed by Beck Schwimmbadbau AG with great attention to detail. It offers the youngest bathers a safe and stimulating environment to playfully discover the element of water. Colourful design elements and age-appropriate attractions invite splashing and exploring, making the Buchen indoor swimming pool even more familyfriendly.
In the entire indoor swimming pool, all surfaces were also renewed, resulting in a fresh and contemporary appearance. BSB placed great emphasis on selecting high quality and durable materials that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
Complete renewal of all technical systems
BSB designed and implemented state oftheart systems for heating, ventilation, sanitary and pool water technology. These measures not only ensure energy efficient and environmentally friendly operation of the pool but also consistently high water quality and a pleasant indoor climate for visitors.
The changing rooms and showers were also modernized as part of the renovation. BSB created bright, friendly and functional areas. A wellthought out room layout and the use of easy care materials contribute to a positive overall experience. The heart of the indoor swimming pool – the multipurpose pool – received a high quality chromenickel steel (CNS) lining. The CNS pool is not only durable and easy to clean but also ensures pleasant water quality and thus a first class bathing experience.
Particular attention was paid to the redesign of the entrance area and the bistro. BSB developed inviting and contemporary concepts. Bright colours, modern furnishings, and an open design create a pleasant atmosphere for arriving and lingering. The bistro was enlarged and made more attractive.
New route guidance and greater accessibility
The exterior appearance of the indoor swimming pool underwent a subtle but effective and harmonious change through the expansion of the toddler’s pool and the construction of new emergency staircases. The existing building envelope was largely retained, preserving the character of the pool.
Inside the swimming hall, the floor and walls were completely renewed, and the ceiling structure was partially renewed. The lighting was converted to energy efficient LED luminaires.
In the changing room area, the ceilings were completely renewed and a new combined changing room was created, which also serves as a changing room for babies thus optimally meeting the needs of families. In future, visitors will be guided through modern changing cabins through the renovated shower area into the swimming hall. An important aspect in terms of accessibility was the downward extension of the existing lift. This now allows for comfortable, barrierfree access to the swimming hall, which significantly facilitates use for people with reduced mobility.
A significant change affected the staff area and the office on the ground floor. These were dissolved to allow for an enlargement and enhancement of the cafeteria area. The new staff room is now located on the swimming hall level and has a separate side entrance, enabling more efficient organization. A closed operations manager‘s office was deliberately omitted to promote an open and communicative working atmosphere.
As a separate but integral part of the overall project the Buchen indoor swimming pool, together with the Buchensaal, was comprehensively upgraded in terms of earthquake safety and fire protection.
Future-oriented reference project
The successful renovation and expansion of the Buchen indoor swimming pool with a total budget of 8.4 million Swiss francs is an impressive example of the performance and commitment of Beck Schwimmbadbau AG as general planner. Through close cooperation with the municipality and the professional handling of all project phases, a modern and attractive indoor swimming pool has been created that optimally meets the needs of the community and makes an important contribution to the quality of life in Speicher.
Author and photos: Beck Schwimmbadbau AG www.beck-schwimmbadbau.ch
Transforming soundscapes in aquatic and sports facilities
Whisper® Acoustic Panels
Imagine stepping into a bustling swimming pool or sports hall – and hearing clarity, not chaos. No harsh echoes, no overwhelming reverberation. Just a calm, balanced acoustic environment where communication is easy and experiences are elevated. That’s the impact of Whisper® Acoustic Panels – an innovative solution setting a new benchmark in noise control for aquatic and sporting environments.
Designed for demanding spaces
Whisper® Acoustic Panels are purposebuilt for architects, designers, and acoustic engineers seeking reliable, versatile, and sustainable solutions. Engineered with a honeycomb like closedcell structure, Whisper® absorbs sound where traditional materials fall short, especially in wet environments.
Why Whisper® stands out – proven acoustic performance
Whisper is the world‘s first commercial acoustic metamaterial, delivering Class A sound absorption (NRC1). This means it effectively reduces reverberation common in sporting environments while having a structure that enables superior mechanical, moisture and impact resistance.
Whether it‘s the sharp echo of a whistle or the din of a crowded venue, Whisper® softens sound at the source – resulting in clearer communication and a safer, more pleasant atmosphere.
Engineered for wet environments
Where other soundabsorbing materials degrade, Whisper® thrives. It’s waterresistant and maintains full acoustic perfor-
mance – even after exposure to extreme conditions like winddriven rain at 16 m/sec and chloramines. Perfect for splash zones, poolside areas, or any space where water or cleaning are a constant factor. You can now absorb air bourne noise at source.
Flexible and visually seamless
Whisper® adapts effortlessly to a wide range of applications:
• Suspended baffles
• Wall and ceiling panels
• Custom acoustic art installations
With no need for moisture barriers or protective facings, these panels integrate directly into your design, offering a clean and modern finish without compromise.
Sustainable by design
Meeting the rising demand for environmentally responsible building materials, Whisper® FR 50mm features low Global Warming Potential in our accredited EPD (A1A3 5.15 kg CO₂e per m²) and multiple endoflife options including reuse, recycling, or energy recovery. Whisper® can provide a significantly lower footprint than traditional materials such as mineral wool and polyester.
Easy to install, built to last Whisper® is lightweight, easy to handle, and simple to install –at <1.25kg/m2. Its low weight also means reduced structural loading and seismic risk. Durable mounting accessories, including corrosionresistant corkscrews and penetration free fasteners, ensure secure, longterm installation – even in harsh conditions.
Tested for safety, trusted worldwide
Safety isn’t optional – it’s built in. Whisper® FR complies with top international standards:
• EN 13501 Class Bs2, d0
• DIN 4102 Class B1
It’s also resistant to mould, rot, and impact (DIN 180323 Class 1A), making it ideal for sports facilities and hightraffic public spaces.
Proven performance around the globe
From Scandinavia to the South Pacific, Whisper® has earned the trust of architects and engineers seeking reliable acoustic performance in aquatic and sports environments. Its innovative construction, durability, and aesthetic versatility have made it a goto solution for premium sound control in challenging conditions.
Ready to redefine your acoustic experience?
If you‘re tackling noise issues in swimming pools, sports halls, or wetarea facilities, Whisper® Acoustic Panels are the solution you‘ve been waiting for. Deliver crystal clear sound, enhance safety, and meet sustainability goals – all with a single product.
Don’t just manage sound. Redefine it – with Whisper®. https://pages.sealedair.com/ukwhisper
Author and photos: Sealed Air
CONTACTS
EMEA: Andrew Cowsill, +49 173 16 38 204 andrew.cowsill@sealedair.com
Germany: Andreas Lehner, +49 170 56 50 873 andreas.lehner@sealedair.com
UK: Wayne Greenwood, +44 7971 492 654 wayne.greenwood@sealedair.com
Unlimited swimming fun
HydroStar PRO turbine from BINDER for powerful flow
An artificial river landscape considerably enhances the attractiveness of water parks and leisure pools. The HydroStar PRO turbine from BINDER makes the swimming experience perfect, as it creates an authentic whitewater feeling.
HydroStar PRO is the refinement of the triedandtested HydroStar turbine swimming system, which is known for its wide, power ful flow. The current of the systems ensures ideal training conditions and feels as if you are in a river. HydroStar and the EasyStar retrofit system turn every dip in the pool into a very special experience.
HydroStar PRO differs from the popular training device for swimmers mainly due to a modified outflow angle of 45° to the pool wall and the adapted cover plate. As a standard, it is sufficient to install the turbines at intervals of eight to ten meters.
HydroStar PRO requires hardly any maintenance as the motor bearings are lubricated by the water. Furthermore, the system is winterproof and the innovative turbine technology is also more energyefficient and quieter than conventional pump systems.
Author and photos: BINDER, www.binder24.com
Sustainable underwater lighting for sports pools
Setting standards with spotlights from WIBRE
Safety, visibility and sustainability – these three factors define the requirements for modern underwater lighting in public swimming, sports and competition pools. With its energyefficient spotlights, WIBRE offers a pioneering and future-proof lighting solution for professional swimming.
The underwater spotlights specially developed for sports pools impress with the highest quality of light with optimised beam characteristics, durable materials and maximum energy efficiency. This not only ensures ideal training and competition conditions but also reduces long-term operating costs and maintenance costs for municipalities and public pool managers.
Consistently focused on sustainability
The spotlight housings are made from the highest quality, corrosionresistant V4A stainless steel. They have been developed for replacing old spotlights (retrofit) and are characterised by an exceptionally long service life. The modular design of the lights simplifies maintenance and replacement of individual components, thus conserving resources.
Safety first
WIBRE pays particular attention to standardcompliant safety and ease of installation. The underwater lights are certified in accordance with DIN EN 60598218 and fulfil all requirements for use under water and in public sports facilities. Thanks to their sophisticated construction, they are easy to install and can be maintained during operation - a real advantage for pool managers.
For swimmers, safety is much higher in optimally lit pools than in unlit pools. Lifeguards and swimming monitoring systems recognize dangers more quickly, which speeds up intervention.
Author and photos: WIBRE, www.wibre.de
Aesthetics meets function
With its new OCEAN series, Agrob Buchtal expands its portfolio with a striking tile collection designed for stylish wellness areas and swimming pools, both indoors and outdoors. The series captures the essence of water in all its forms – sometimes calm and shimmering, sometimes wild and dynamic.
An innovative combination of digital printing technology and glaze pigments gives OCEAN tiles an intense colour depth and vibrancy. The result is flowing colour gradients that evoke tropical dreamscapes: from sandy natural tones to crystal green waters, Caribbean turquoise, and deep Pacific blue. The visual effect is reminiscent of looking into clear seawater – with light reflections, wavelike structures, and the soft texture of sand and stone.
The plank and mosaic formats enable a wide range of layout variations and can be perfectly combined with proven series such as Ascona, Savona, or Quarzit. Colour coordinated elements from the ChromaPlural colour system ensure a harmonious overall appearance.
OCEAN also impresses on a functional level: the surface features the proven Hytect® refinement, which facilitates cleaning and hygiene in wet areas. The series is optimized for 6 mm joint widths, making it ideal for largeformat pools as well. The matching mosaic with thermoplastic bonding is also available in a slip resistant R10/B version – perfect for safe use in permanently wet areas.
OCEAN by Agrob Buchtal: A vibrant design element that masterfully unites aesthetics, technology, and function.
Discover the world from the PANTHEON®
Playgrounds and school playgrounds are vibrant spaces that need inspiring play equipment that combines movement, creativity and inclusion. With its imposing height of 4 meters, the PANTHEON® is a real eyecatcher and quickly becomes a central meeting point whether in the park, on the school grounds or in the neighbourhood play area.
Children and young people can test their climbing skills here, gain new perspectives or relax in cozy hammocks and bird‘s nests. The concept combines sporting challenges with quiet zones for both active and relaxing moments.
Thanks to its modular design, each PANTHEON® can be individually planned and flexibly extended ideal for meeting the specific requirements of schools, local authorities or sponsors. In addition to promoting motor skills and selfconfidence, the system also provides valuable stimuli for social interaction.
Four preconfigured PANTHEON® models are currently available in the PLAYPARC store. Newly developed modules not only increase the play value, but also offer additional functions: for example, climbing modules that also provide shade at the same time or inclusive elements such as the barrierfree seating sphere, which enables everyone to play together.
The inclusive approach is an integral part of the design and enables genuine participation for children with different abilities. Examples such as the Jubiläumsspielpark in Hanover or the “Molkenbänke” in Bad Lippspringe impressively demonstrate how PANTHEON® transforms playgrounds and schoolyards into lively, inclusive places full of movement, encounters and fun.
Agrob Buchtal Solar Ceramics GmbH www.agrob-buchtal.de
Photo: Agrob
Buchtal Solar Ceramics
Retractable tunnels
The TatamSport model tunnels are perfectly designed to meet all possible requirements. They can be adapted to any dimensions, colours and shapes to offer the maximum possible versatility. Their aluminium structure makes them light yet sturdy, and the canvas panels are M2 flameretardant PVC.
The advantage these tunnels have in being retractable is that, when not in use, they can be folded up and stored in any small space.
We manufacture a wide variety of models depending on their location and intended use.
Since 1996, we have been supplying our guaranteed quality products to countless sports facilities, in turn expanding continuously in the international market and developing into a reference in the domestic market.
With virtually no maintenance required, the quality and guarantee of our tunnels speak for themselves.
PIX grating – custom designed
Berndorf Bäderbau presents the new PIX grating, which impresses with its geometry, long service life, customizable design, and exceptionally high hygiene standards. The PIX grating is uniquely customizable, technologically advanced, sustainable, and safe.
The PIX cover caps give the grating an individual look. Add text, create designs, or display your logo – the possibilities are endless. Thanks to the wide range of colours, creativity knows no bounds.
In systems with overflow and wastewater channels, the PIX grating takes hygiene to a new level. Its intelligent design prevents clean water from unintentionally entering the wastewater channel, conserving valuable water. It also significantly reduces the transfer of cleaning water.
The gratings adapt perfectly to any requirements and overflow channels. The PIX grating is available in various widths and meets the highest antislip standards (Class C according to EN 134511). TÜV Austria has tested its safety and loadbearing capacity according to EN 134511 and ÖNORM M 6228.
As an ISO 14001 certified company for environmental management, Berndorf Bäderbau places great importance on ecofriendliness. That’s why they chose polypropylene: 100% recyclable, chlorineresistant, and frostresistant. The PIX grating is fully compatible with the previously used Berndorf Bäderbau Classic grating, making it easy to retrofit existing pools at any time.
Berndorf Metall- und Bäderbau GmbH www.berndorf-baederbau.com
Photo: TatamSport
hoto: Berndorf Bäderbau
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“sb“ showcases exemplary architecture, spectrum of innovations, products and services from the leisure centre, sports facility, swimming pool and wellness sector
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EDITORIAL PROGRAMME 2025
1/2025 SPORTS HALLS AND ARENAS
2/2025 STADIA AND SPORTS GROUNDS
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With ceramic tiles from Agrob Buchtal, pools are a sustainable combination in terms of aesthetics, functionality and economy. The tiles are Hytectfinished at the factory, easy to clean, robust and durable. A wide range of colors, formats and surfaces offers creative scope for new builds and renovations: this enables water landscapes from a single source, with slip-resistant floors and steps as well as harmonious transitions between outside and inside. This results in high-quality swimming pools in which generations of athletes and families enjoy taking a dip.
