hennigsdorf swimming pool

guiding principles of the design
the site for the new swimming pool is defined by the listed former gymnasium and a park with impressively tall trees. the idea of incorporating the existing building into the plan was abandoned because, given the requirement to bypass the former gymnasium building, a connection to the new swimming pool would only be possible from a second floor. the basic concept is a free-standing, solitary building in the former gymnasium’s outdoor area, whose footprint deliberately ignores existing site or building lines to emphasize the position of old and new. beneath a floating, green, folded landscape, the experiential space of the new swimming pool is created. the wellness outdoor area is embedded in this elevated green space, forming a protected inner courtyard with views of the trees.

program
the entrance area, administration, changing rooms, and pool gastronomy, as well as sports, children’s, and adventure areas, are located on a single level slightly recessed into the terrain. the large, contiguous pool area is visually and, optionally with a glass partition, acoustically divided into two zones: the sports pool and the adventure pool with a small children’s area.
the entire wellness and sauna area is situated on the upper floor; roof cutouts create an intimate, protected, and generous outdoor space divided into terraces and green areas. required technical facilities are located directly adjacent to the pools in the basement, while the chlorine gas storage is housed in a separate building section near the parking area.

functionality
the swimming pool entrance is directly on a new pedestrian and bicycle connection between Neuerdorfer- and Rathenaustraße, in close proximity to new parking in the northwest corner of the site. the ground monument remains untouched by parking; the northern area is left undisturbed. from the entrance foyer, visitors can immediately survey the pool area and orient themselves. here are the welcome desk, first-aid room, and a small, free-entry café. from the foyer, paths separate to the pool on the ground floor and the wellness area on the upper floor. the gastronomic areas for the pool and wellness zones are vertically linked by a dumbwaiter, with partially covered outdoor areas directly in front of each. a micro-perforated suspended foil ceiling (membrane) combined with horizontally and vertically adjustable or tiltable, partially acoustically effective façades ensures optimal room acoustics.

outdoor space
the floating green carpet forms the roof and façade of the upper floor, barely touching the terrain where new and existing greenery merge. the building’s orientation and internal layout allow for direct allocation of usable, partially rain- and sun-protected outdoor spaces on all sides, extending the interior into the outdoor areas. to protect the outdoor areas from streets and the existing building, the terrain is shaped into wedge-shaped forms with gentle slopes toward streets and the historic building, minimizing the need to remove excavation soil. large portions of the roof and walls are greened, integrating the new building optimally into the existing landscape. the fifth green façade provides an important visual element for the taller upper floors of the existing building and benefits the urban climate, biodiversity, stormwater retention, and additional thermal insulation.

construction
the structural system is derived from the high intended flexibility of use. the high variability of usable areas minimizes load-bearing walls and avoids beams. in the northern building section (sauna area), flat concrete slabs without beams are arranged over a grid of columns and a few essential shear walls. all upper-floor pools are directly supported by columns extending to the basement. large spans over the column-free pool hall are economically solved with two steel trusses and prefabricated wooden floor panels. the cantilevered relaxation galleries in the pool hall rest on the two supporting exterior wall panels. overall building stiffness is ensured by minimized shear walls or braces. the foundation is a shallow foundation in white-box construction.

daylight, materials, and color
great attention is paid to balanced natural lighting. the play of daylight on water and its reflections is highly attractive. the ground floor is fully glazed on all sides, allowing generous views in and out. only the changing rooms and ancillary spaces have partially translucent glazing. large north-facing light sheds provide even daylight to the pool hall. in contrast, the wellness area on the upper floor has a closed façade for privacy and a sense of security, with selectively placed windows where tree views are desired, such as in the relaxation galleries, which also function as seating and lounging niches with direct views of the park. the wellness area opens transparently to its own protected inner courtyard. materials and colors convey understated elegance: light floors and walls in the pool area highlight the blue water, while darker surfaces in the wellness area create a muted, warm light flattering to the body.

sustainability and energy efficiency
to ensure economical operation, a building services concept was developed to reduce energy consumption and recover energy according to the latest technology. the approach focuses on an energy-optimized building envelope, capable of minimizing energy use through passive solar gain. heat recovery from exhaust air and wastewater is used for space heating, pool water, and domestic hot water. electrical systems are equipped with load-shedding to prevent peak consumption and optimize energy use. all measures are automatically regulated by state-of-the-art DDC systems, enabling efficient operation with minimal staffing.

energy concept
beyond minimizing primary energy demand, energy use is actively controlled and reduced. shower water use is limited by time-controlled faucets, and modern digital control systems further reduce consumption. optimized pool and wastewater treatment minimizes fresh water use, contributing to cost-effective operation. a ventilation unit with two-stage heat recovery exceeding 80% recovers heat from pool and shower air. condensate cooling allows recovery of evaporative heat via a central heat pump, whose driving energy also contributes to further heat recovery. a plate heat exchanger paired with the heat pump reduces compressor electricity use. only hygienically required fresh air is added to pool hall air. heat from other areas is recovered via plate exchangers with over 65% efficiency. wastewater heat recovery also uses the central heat pump. a separate piping system collects this wastewater, while backwash water from pool filters is recovered through a central system with counterflow heat exchangers and storage tanks.

structural concept
the load-bearing structure is derived from functional requirements. the two-story north section is built in solid construction with flexible, beam-free flat slabs supported on columns and walls. large spans over the pools use a steel structure with prefabricated wood floors. the foundation is a white-box slab according to geotechnical recommendations.

fire protection and escape routes

fire compartmentation
fire compartments are arranged floor by floor. on the ground floor, the pool hall forms its own compartment together with the foyer and adjacent rooms.

escape routes
on the ground floor, less than 35 m walking distance leads to the adjacent outdoor level. on the upper floor, less than 35 m leads either to a stairwell or through the hall compartment to the outdoors.

load-bearing structure
walls, columns, and slabs (except the roof) have a fire resistance of 90 minutes. the roof structure has a fire resistance of 30 minutes.

technical fire protection measures
smoke and heat extraction: the pool hall has a natural smoke and heat ventilation system to secure escape routes and support fire brigade operations. the stairwell has a natural smoke vent at the top.
early fire detection: the entire building is equipped with an automatic fire alarm system.