Dive into History: Church Transforms into Stunning Swimming Pool!

Quick Smiles:

• Historic church in the Netherlands transformed into a public swimming pool.
• Innovative design preserves church’s historic elements while adding modern functionality.
• Adjustable pool floor allows for diverse activities and social events.

In the charming city of Heerlen, the St. Francis of Assisi Church is undergoing a remarkable transformation. This historic building, which ceased its religious services in 2023, is set to become a public swimming pool, thanks to the creative collaboration between architecture firms MVRDV and Zecc Architecten.

Dubbed “Holy Water,” the project aims to breathe new life into the century-old church while maintaining its architectural heritage. The innovative design includes an adjustable pool floor that can cater to various activities beyond swimming.

Visitors will be able to access the pool through the church’s aisles, leading them to changing rooms and a restaurant located at the back. Glass walls will separate these areas from the pool, ensuring the preservation of the church’s historic charm.

A unique feature of the design is the reuse of the church’s pews, which will be integrated into the glass walls. This clever adaptation will provide seating for swimmers and function as bar tables for spectators. Even the old pulpit will find new purpose, serving as the lifeguard’s perch.

Winy Maas, founding partner of MVRDV, expressed the need for innovative uses of vacant churches:
“The vacancy rate of churches is increasing, so we need to come up with new, creative ideas for what we can do with these buildings. Why not give these churches a social function again, as they used to have? A public swimming pool is ideally suited for this. Imagine swimming the backstroke with a view of a church vault and stained-glass windows.”

The pool’s adjustable floor will also allow for the entire space to be covered with a thin layer of water, creating a stunning reflection of the church’s interior. This feature will give visitors the sensation of walking on water.

Sustainability is a key consideration in the design, with measures in place to heat the pool efficiently while protecting the church’s historic materials. The roof will be insulated from the outside, preserving the original interior view, and sound-absorbing panels will enhance acoustics.

Local artists will collaborate on a new mosaic floor that reflects the church’s stained-glass windows and the vibrant murals of Heerlen. The lighting design will echo the original church lamps, doubling as lane guides for swimmers.

This inventive project promises to offer Heerlen’s residents a unique venue for recreation and community events. Swimmers are eagerly anticipated to dive into this innovative space by the end of 2027.

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