Born from the collaboration between X Atelier and Atelier Baum, Loop Pool is a response to the demand for easily accessible bathing facilities in Lisbon’s urban perimeter. The solutions currently present in the Portuguese city are in fact limited to the few public outdoor swimming pools that, like the large beaches on the nearby coast, are easily overcrowded on hot days.
The project seeks to bring the people of Lisbon closer to the river’s water surface, through a circular module immersed in the Tagus. The swimming pool is part of the redevelopment of the existing Braço de Prata pier and its subsequent transformation into a platform connecting the city to its river, with the aim of giving inhabitants access to public swimming pools and a range of water activities.
The public swimming pool was developed around the aesthetics effect of a drop of water whose movement generates a shape that accommodates different functions from the starting point of a pier.
The architectural vision of the Lisbon studios presents a sculptural element that seeks to establish an analogy between the pragmatic and rigid form of the existing pier and the inherent fluidity of the river. This dialogue of forms reacts imperceptibly to the demands of the practices, as a structure founded on concrete piles in continuity with the pier that keeps this element floating on the water.
The public swimming pool was developed around the aesthetics effect of a drop of water whose movement generates a shape that accommodates different functions from the starting point of a pier. The circle is the centrepiece of the design and delineates the pool, in turn translating into a ring that attracts the flow of circulation around it.
To the north, the object rises to create a solarium and amphitheatre area facing west. To the south, a second slope defines a rest and seating area with an entry point directly into the river itself, suitable for activities such as rowing or stand-up paddle. The highest point of the west wing of the Loop Pool serves as a launching point for diving into the pool, while on the lower level, a loop at water level creates a shaded resting area.
Opening image: X Atelier and Atelier Baum, Loop Pool, Lisboa, Portugal. Courtesy Atelier Baum