Paralympic gold medallist Ellie Simmonds explores the design and importance of swimming pools. She joins award-winning Dutch architects for the Paris 2024 Aquatic Centre project. Topics include sustainability, accessibility, and the role of public pools in promoting community health and fitness.
Swimming pools serve as vital community hubs promoting social connections and public health.
Architects are prioritizing sustainability and inclusivity in pool design, focusing on energy efficiency and accessibility features.
Deep dives
Designing and Building Swimming Pools
Designing and constructing swimming pools involves a series of steps, from finding a site provided by the landowner to writing a brief, creating concept designs, and going through planning applications before moving into detailed design stages. The process includes considerations such as building materials, insulation, and roof types, with community engagement playing a significant role. Projects can last from a year to a couple of years and involve collaboration with contractors and consultants.
Van Hoven CS Architecture Practice
Van Hoven CS, a renowned design and consultancy practice, located in Amsterdam, has a diverse team of architects, urban planners, and technical engineers. The company specializes in designing public pools and leisure centers, with international projects in countries like Germany, France, and China. They recently worked on the Aquatic Center for the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, showcasing their expertise and innovative designs.
The Social and Environmental Aspects of Pool Design
The importance of swimming pools as social hubs that contribute to community cohesion and public health is emphasized, with pools serving as fitness and social centers. There is a growing focus on sustainability in pool design, including the use of green roofs and energy-producing systems. Architects aim to create energy-neutral buildings and prioritize accessibility, with continuous learning about different types of disabilities to ensure inclusivity and user-friendly designs.
Public swimming pools are more than just concrete and water. Often, they are the heart of a community, a place to exercise, to meet people and connect. Paralympic gold medallist Ellie Simmonds explores what it takes to design and build a swimming pool, and asks why they are so important in a post-pandemic era. She joins award-winning Dutch architects VenhoevenCS as they sign off their biggest project to date - the aquatic centre for Paris 2024. Their lead architects talk us through their plans for the new pool, looking at sustainability, accessibility and safety. She also hears from British architect, author and swimming advocate Chris Romer Lee about the importance of public pools, and why he thinks more of us should be getting into the water.
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