About project
The new swimming pool in Havlíčkův Brod is not a lonely landmark, but a natural part of the landscape of the town park. Its mass gives the impression of an ancient relic – a fossil that was left behind. Our competition design for the pool may evoke the skeleton of a whale, a piece of coastline washed up by time, a shape that was not built but discovered. The building thus blends naturally into the park, flowing seamlessly into it rather than dividing it.
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Client
Město Havlíčkův Brod
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Year
2025
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Location
Havlíčkův Brod
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Visualisations
studio perspektiv
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Architecture
Ján Antal
Martin Křivánek
Jakub Longauer -
Landscape
Barbora Kuciaková
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The inspiration of the Baroque architecture of the Highlands is written here not only in the play of light and shadow, but also in the form itself and its ornament. This layer lends the building a strong local identity and connects it to the historical context of the site. The façade is like the skin of this prehistoric creature that remains in the park – its structure and material design underline the relationship between the building and its natural surroundings. The colour of the surface carries hints of the deep ocean, a reflection of the ancient watery world that materialized in the architecture of the city park.
The pool not only brings exercise and tranquillity to the public space, but also a café that extends the park’s amenities and opens up a space for gathering. The house thus becomes not only a place for water, but also a place for the city – a place that has always been there and yet brings the future.
Respect for the SPA and the biocorridor
The basic layout of the swimming pool is based on an analysis of the defined area. The design respects the biocorridor boundaries and the zoning plan delineation.
Operational breakdown
- changing rooms and facilities
- swimming hall
- relaxation hall
- entrance hall with café
- colonnade with a paddling pool and a spring
The operating scheme is based on a simple rectangle divided into thirds. The central part consists of changing rooms and facilities, while the outermost thirds contain the swimming and relaxation hall. This basic volume is complemented by smaller spaces – an entrance hall with a café on one side and a colonnade with a paddling pool and jacuzzi on the other.
Space and light
The atmosphere of the interior is based on the Baroque work with light. Thanks to the orientation of the windows and skylights to different cardinal points, light and shadow change throughout the day, creating a dynamic and unique atmosphere in each space.
Ornament and architecture
Each interior space has a different spatial concept, so moving through the house is like exploring. Curvilinear ornaments are inscribed into the architecture, reinforcing local identity and giving the pool an unmistakable character.
Place, landscape, transport
The swimming pool is located in a terrain notch that runs through Havlíčkův Brod and forms the main city park called Budoucnost. This notch is a natural landscape element that brings greenery and water into the urban landscape The building is designed so that it does not interfere with the natural character of the place, but instead becomes an integral part of it. It gives the impression of having always been there, in harmony with the surrounding environment.
The landscape design concept is based on the continuation of the city park and the natural continuation of current attractive interventions such as stone stream crossings, natural benches and small piers for sitting above the water. This landscape interaction supports the idea of open space and connection to nature. All designs strive to keep the park and pool seamlessly connected so that visitors do not feel that the path ends at the fence. In this way, the park becomes a place for everyday gathering and relaxation that non-violently connects nature and architecture.
In the area of transport, we propose three main parking zones with a total capacity of 110 spaces (50 spaces in the northern car park, 15 spaces along Chotěbořská Street and 45 spaces on the southern side). We are also providing two bus parking spaces and three K+R spaces along Chotěbořská Street. There are sufficient bicycle racks in front of the main entrance to the pool, which will promote environmentally friendly transport and make the pool accessible to the general public.
