Saanvi Sharma Reimagining Urban Spaces: A Dive into Granada’s Public Pool
In the picturesque city of Granada, Spain, a municipal swimming pool stands as a testament to architectural innovation and environmental harmony. Crafted by DJ Arquitectura in 2009, this aquatic haven transforms the remnants of an old school site, with a restored gym building, into a captivating space for communal leisure.
Strategic Site Selection
The Lobres City Council, in envisioning the municipal swimming pool, strategically chose the site with a nuanced approach. The location, marked by a small-scale building grid, orchards, and ditches, presented a unique canvas with a three-meter drop, encapsulating the charm of the Guadalfeo valley. Nestled beside the sea in Granada, this site offered an ideal backdrop for architectural ingenuity.
A Fusion of Nostalgia and Innovation
Designed as a new addition to the consolidated core, the swimming pool carries a nostalgic charm associated with collective memories of open spaces. Balancing urban and public bathing activities, the architects envisioned the pool as a landscape piece, offering a playful and autonomous atmosphere complemented by the tropical coastal environment.
Creating an Artificial Valley
The architectural vision gave rise to an artificial valley, strategically utilizing the existing slope to avoid extensive excavation. This valley, serving as the surface for swimming and recreational pools, extends into slopes, creating a dynamic cornice line that opens up views towards the sea in the south and the hills in the north.
Defining Spaces within the Valley
The valley takes shape with white, rough, and whitewashed walls, echoing the region’s agricultural traditions. Within this landscape, the space “intra muros” houses changing rooms, service areas, and a kiosk. Entering through a large front door, visitors embark on a half-lit journey towards the valley’s lightness, leaving the village behind to rediscover it in a peculiar and playful setting.
Intimate Water Experiences
Venturing deeper into the valley, visitors encounter the changing rooms, where the play of water becomes an ambient experience. Skylights piercing through the slopes cast shadows on the cavernous concrete roof, creating a warm and tranquil atmosphere heightened by steam drops from the showers.
Sustainable Aesthetics: An Artificial Landscape
The project culminates as an artificial landscape, where the finish significantly influences its perception, blurring the boundaries between natural and artificial. A recyclable, easy-to-maintain material resembling artificial grass adorns the geological mannequin, embellished with vegetation that thrives when water touches it.
A Symphony of Green Homogeneity
In this sustainable oasis, green homogeneity is interrupted by tropical vegetation, with climbing honeysuckles wafting their scent and clumps of winter cherry boasting vibrant orange flowers. Fountain trees defy winter with scarlet blossoms, ushering visitors into a realm of fantastical beauty. Near the bar, a canopy of white canvas hangs from undulated profiles, casting shadows on the prairie like a playful dance in the wind.
Conclusion: Architectural Alchemy in Granada
DJ Arquitectura’s public pool in Granada transcends its utilitarian purpose, becoming a masterpiece of architectural alchemy. By seamlessly blending natural elements with artistic design, the pool offers not just a space for aquatic activities but an immersive experience where architecture and nature dance in perfect harmony.
