What should you do if your neighbour keeps flooding your garden? The renovation of the Steele outdoor pool in Essen is an extraordinary story.

Bernd

The Steele outdoor pool in Essen lies directly on the Ruhr River. Although this location is picturesque, it is also dangerous during not-uncommon flooding events: in July 2021, the "Bernd" low-pressure system resulted in the flooding of the swimming pool and damage to the technical facilities and the clubhouse.

Therefore, the Sports and Swimming Pools Department of the city of Essen, as owners, and Schwimmfreunde Steele 1911, as tenants and users, naturally demanded that resilience to flooding events should be part of the reconstruction.

The planning was carried out by the Deye Planning Office in Hatten, while the pool basin was built by Myrtha Pools.

River bath

The Steele outdoor pool was founded in 1945 from a river bathing facility on the Ruhr, and is the smallest outdoor pool in Essen. After extensive renovation, it was reopened with a ceremony in May 2024 - and it has already passed the test when it comes to flooding.

Now it can fulfil its purpose as an idyllic meeting place with in a wonderful setting, as a sports facility for both young and old and as a destination for excursions for the whole family.

With a water surface of almost 400 m², the combined 25m swimmers' and non-swimmers' pool is the centrepiece of the facility. It is heated and maintained at a pleasant water temperature of around 23°C, providing a comfortable swimming experience even on cooler days.

Containers

The decision to house all of the pool technology in containers is also far-sighted and groundbreaking in comparison to similar projects, because they can be taken to safety in good time when flooding is imminent.

By increasing the reinforcement of the banks and optimising the drainage systems, the site has also been designed in such a way that it can better withstand future flood events. In addition, the outdoor swimming area has been redesigned in its entirety in order to create a natural barrier against flooding.

Topography

The design of the site also takes the natural topography into account, and harmoniously integrates the pool into its environment. A large sunbathing lawn with shady trees offers visitors peace and relaxation, while a modern playground and a climbing course appeal in particular to families with children.

Since its reopening, the Steele outdoor pool has been very popular despite the mediocre summer of 2024, which underlines its importance to the local community. Naturally, events organised by the very committed SF Steele 1911, such as the annual Steeler duck race, also contributed to the pool quickly becoming a vibrant centre for sports and leisure once again.