Wavy pavilion

Noorderparkbad in Amsterdam

Pavilion in the park

The swim­ming pool Noor­der­parkbad in Amsterdam is a free-stan­ding buil­ding with an airy appearance that invites the public to step inside. By focu­sing on easing the tran­si­tion between land­scape and buil­ding and brea­king down the typi­cally large scale of a pool accom­mo­da­tion, Noor­der­parkbad is empha­sized as a pavi­lion in the park. The softly shaped volumes and curved rain curtain are the media­tors between buil­ding and park. Two stacked volumes deter­mine the shape of the buil­ding. By moving the upper volume to the rear the buil­ding blends well with the scale of the park as well as the resi­den­tial area. In addi­tion, the setback enables the pene­tra­tion of daylight deep into the buil­ding.

Wavy rain curtain

The wavy rain curtain is the most striking element of the Noor­der­parkbad. Prima­rily an educa­tional element, it commu­ni­cates how closely the swim­ming pool is connected to water. On a rainy day, the water flows like a water­fall trick­ling down the curtain and lets the visitor see how rain­water becomes bathing water. On sunny days the curtain shim­mers like a congealed cascade, while on wintry days the ice crys­tals trans­form the buil­ding into an ice palace. Also, the curtain thea­tri­cally marks the entrances to the pool: it is pulled up and guides the visitor into the buil­ding.

Family pool

The Noor­der­parkbad is the new public family pool for the north of Amsterdam and will serve an important social func­tion. The tradi­tional theme of a bath­house as a meeting place for the neigh­bor­hood is reflected in the atmo­sphere of the inte­rior. Inti­mate enclosed spaces alter­nate with high ceilings and skylights. The wooden rhom­boid roof cons­truc­tion and finishes of floor, ceiling and wall in tradi­tional mate­rials lends the buil­ding a warm atmo­sphere.

Sustainable design

The ambi­tions concer­ning a sustainable design for the Noor­der­parkbad are very high and already taken into account from the layout of the floor plan. Acting like a warm blanket, the secon­dary func­tions are ther­e­fore wrapped around the three halls of the various pools, which are heated to high tempe­ra­tures. Only the south facing eleva­tions of these halls have no climate buffer, allo­wing the sun to heat the space and visi­tors to enjoy the beau­tiful view over the park.

Project data

Architect

de Archi­tekten Cie. B.V.

Keizers­gracht 126

NL — 1015 CW Amsterdam

Team

Branimir Medić, Pero Puljiz

Hans Hammink, Lars van Hoften, Louis Afonso, Paulos Kinfu, Rink Alberda, Theo Martens, Ernst van Raaphorst

Client

City of Amsterdam

Opening

2015

Author

de Archi­tekten Cie. B.V.

Address

Het Noor­der­parkbad

Snee­uw­balweg 5

NL — Amsterdam

Aerial view

Thank you, Google!

Images

Plans

Videos

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