The new aquatic center in Medellin meets the needs of future competitions as well as the availability as a new swimming teaching facility and public pools. The project is articulated by a system of garden through which the four pools are connected. A flooded landscape planted with species typical of tropical wetlands provides separation of private and public spaces. The program required complex system of bathrooms and changing rooms for swimmers and the public, All this areas are beneath the aquatic gardens. A set of courtyards below ground level give natural illumination to them and provide a meeting space and warm up area for competitors and swimers.
Design: Luis Callejas, Edgar Mazo and Sebastian Mejia (as Paisajes Emergentes)
Location: Medellin, Colombia
Competition team: Juanita González, Eliana Beltrán, Sebastián Betancur, Andrés Zapata, Clara Arango and Adriana Tamayo
Project team: Farid Maya, Sebastián Monsalve, Luis Tobón, Iván Forgionni, Juan Sebastián Pérez, Andrés Zapata, Sebastián Serna, Juan Esteban Gómez, Érica Martínez and Aura Cuartas
Structural engineering: Jorge Aristizabal
Landscape: Luis Callejas, Edgar Mazo, Sebastian Mejia + Andres Ospina
Client: Medellín Mayor’s office, Inder, Coldeportes
Photographs: Iwan Baan / Luis Callejas / Juan Esteban Gomez / Jaime Andres Orozco