The
Municipality of Ljubljana held a competition to obtain an urban,
architectural and landscape design concept for the renovation of the
Kolezija swimming pool into a sports complex that would include a new
open Olympic swimming pool with all exterior areas complementing the
program (wet and dry playgrounds, sports fields, paved and green
areas) and a health and wellness centre with a smaller indoor pool,
saunas, fitness facilities, a dance hall, a sports medicine centre, a
restaurant and all necessary infrastructure. It was required that the
wellness centre complex would preserve the original layout and
character of a swimming pool in the greenery by the Gradaščica
river.
The longitudinal program volume by
the Gunduličeva street is transformed into a "city urban
screen" that reflects its activities, while the program "volume
of accompanying activities" facing the south of the outdoor
pool, which adjoins the Gradaščica riverside and greenery, offers
visual protection from the city's hustle and bustle, though still
allowing direct visual contact with and physical access to the
outdoor pool through the ground level break.
Placed
in between protected sides of the current building, the indoor pool
volume serves as a visual and physical axis connection between the
existing main entrance with a quality park area and the water area
with pools and other activity areas in the greenery.The spatial
design adapts to current axis design in the old pool complex,
accessibility, orientation, insolation and views.The structure
design observes design features in terms of the structure's life
cycle, sustainable use of materials and textures (recycled and
recyclable materials, multilayered envelope), natural light and
shade, optimum use and performance of renewable energy sources
included in the structure design (photovoltaic panels, solar
collectors – for sanitary hot water or assistance in heating where
low temperature systems and geothermal probes/heat pump are planned),
the bioclimatic aspect, and the use of energy-efficient heating and
cooling systems.The volume design enables modularity and
flexibility of program area arrangements.The spatial design and
its clearly structured circulation are entirely adapted to planned
program needs, accessibility and separation of program areas.