Swimming Pool / Terrace Swimming Pool

Swimming Pool / Terrace Swimming Pool

Swimming pool / Terrace Swimming Pool is an innovative architectural design that seamlessly integrates a contemporary swimming facility within a historic building's courtyard setting. This sophisticated structure, recognized with a Silver A' Design Award in Architecture, Building and Structure Design category, represents a harmonious blend of form and function through its thoughtful integration with the existing architecture. The design features a 20-meter-long structure with a width of 5.4 meters and height of 2.8 meters above water level, incorporating a prefabricated stainless steel pool measuring 16 x 4.2 x 1.5 meters. The structure's distinctive characteristic lies in its transparent and reflective qualities, achieved through custom-made stainless steel loadbearing frames and three different types of glass treatments - transparent, single-sided, and double-sided ground glass - creating a rhythmic visual pattern. The design's ingenuity extends to its dual functionality as both a swimming pool and terrace, with the roof glazing featuring special friction-ensuring printing for safe pedestrian use. The structure's integration with its environment is enhanced through black stone cladding that both defines the excavation and houses the heating system. During daylight hours, the structure appears to dissolve into the garden landscape, while at night it transforms into a luminous feature through water reflections on its translucent surface. The innovative glazing attachment system, specifically designed for this project, employs a thin metal strip between adjacent glass elements, eliminating visible silicone joints and contributing to the structure's clean, minimalist aesthetic. This architectural intervention demonstrates exceptional sensitivity to historical context while introducing contemporary design elements, creating a sophisticated balance between preservation and modern functionality.

architectural integration, historic preservation, glass construction, aquatic facility, sustainable design, contemporary architecture

— Adam Dawson