Location Oettingen, Germany Client/Operator City of Oettingen Architect JORDAN BALZER SCHUBERT Architekten PartG mbB, DE – 01127 Dresden www.jbs-a.net Open space planning STORCH.LANDSCHAFTSARCHITEKTUR DE – 01097 Dresden www.storch-la.de Structural Planning and Bridge Dr. Gollwitzer - Dr. Linse und Partner Ingenieure im Bauwesen mbB Authors Rico Schubert, Robert Storch, Dr. Thomas Gollwitzer Photos Sebastian Weingart www.wunderwaldphoto.com Official opening June 2020 Construction costs EUR 1.8 million
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BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE REMODELLING AND REDESIGN OF OETTINGEN RIVER BATHING FACILITY The go-ahead for the redesign was given in 2015 with the announcement of a planning competition for the Mühlespan outdoor bathing facility. The park-like island of Mühlespan with its river bathing facility is a local recreation area and excursion destination for young and old in Oettingen and neighbouring communities in Bavaria. The existing bathing facility on the Wörnitz was to be upgraded and the dilapidated entrance building and the equally run-down bridge were to be replaced by new structures. The Storch/JBS/RUB consortium was awarded the contract for its overall solution. A new wooden walkway now interconnects all the existing and newly erected buildings and attractions. To give the bathing facility an appropriate entrance situation, a 35 m long and only 5 m wide entrance building has been erected. With its sharp outline, the new building stands like a piece of furniture amidst large, old trees and its placid exterior blends into the existing setting. The distinctive entrance situation is formed by a striking indentation, which is accentuated by the peak of the irregular roof. The dynamic roof shape and the building’s elongated form reflect the constantly flowing waters of the river Wör-
nitz. The covered passageway houses the cash desk and a locker area. Untreated wood materials To emphasise the natural character of the outdoor river facility, both the entire load-bearing frame and the façade have been built with untreated wood materials. The main parts of the exterior walls and the roof are thus made of 10 cm and 12 cm thick five-layer cross-laminated timber boards and, together with some of the sb 3/2021
