Bathing landscape in Schwelm, Germany

Renderings: pbr

RENATURATION, BATHING AND LOUNGING/LOVING

BATHING LANDSCAPE IN SCHWELM, GERMANY

Around 1.5 kilometres from the town centre, the municipality of Schwelm is planning a new bathing complex that will concentrate the outdoor and indoor pools in one place and exploit operational and architectural synergies. Transparency and naturalness are the distinctive features of the mostly single-storey structure on a topographically varied terrain. A delicate wooden structure frames floor-to-ceiling window elements.

The ascending, green and walkable roof is defined as a fifth façade and in this way becomes an essential component of a new park landscape. The building takes account of the heights required for different areas, such as the diving tower, and uses these as special design features in the shaping of the building. The load-bearing structure of the almost transparent building consists of glulam columns, a ceiling of wooden elements and glulam trusses. The wooden roof structure is visible both inside and out. Sustainability strategy Merging the building structure with the building services equipment could pave the way to carbon neutrality. The possibilities outlined in the concept include, among others, the following: room partitioning according to usage temperature, ventilation systems with highly efficient heat recovery, demand-based water treatment technology, daylight-dependent lighting control, and the use of solar collectors, photovoltaics and biomass boilers.

Development of a public park landscape The new Schwelmebad pool facility faces the street via an inviting glazed foyer, which offers a view of the landscape beyond the pool across the pool deck in the interior. The public forecourt outside the main entrance, with its Schwelme terraces and direct access to the Schwelme stream, as well as the publicly accessible catering facilities, is a high-quality amenity.

Along the Schwelme stream, there are plans for an educational trail and a knowledge lens to offer not only bathers, but also walkers and school classes a place to linger and find out more. For the so-called knowledge lens, the diving tower of the existing pool will be recycled and repurposed. The open space is divided into zones with different functions, such as „renaturation“, „bathing“ and „lounging/ loving“. Around the outdoor pools (brine pool and non-swimmers‘ pool) are the sunbathing lawn for bathers and a beach volleyball court for sporting activities. Seating elements of wood will be integrated in steps into the slope and encourage communication and contemplation. The new park landscape will be accessible not only to bathers but also to the public all year round.