The indoor and outdoor swimming pool facility “Drautalperle” is located
in Spittal/Drau in northern part of the Austrian region of Carinthia, one of
the most beautiful fluvial topographies in the Alps.
Therefore the central topic of the design was the fusion between inside
room and outside landscape, what has been maintained by placing big windows
resembling oxygen bubbles in water. By this means it was possible to break up
the usually rigid partition between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Due to the building location in the urban tissue and its function as
identification point and landmark, the architectonical embodiment of the “Drautalperle”
has had a high signification from the very beginning. The individual openings
of the windows break up the monolithic facades and create a suspenseful
appearance with clear and simple elegance, where compactness and transparency
differentiate the cubage and cause a shimmering depth game - the charming tension
relationship of opaque and transparent areas lifts out the use-specific
requirements.
Great value was attached to both, openness to the inside and to the
outside – brightness and transparency create an agreeable and eased room
climate, where spectacular looks at the Goldeck mountain and the Drau valley
ensure the perceptibilityof the
surrounding landscapeon the inside. On
the outside the generous forecourt creates an adequate front-end as a meeting
and communication point and together with the building it forms a cushion
between public and internal areas.
The design of the building purses the aim of drawing not only the
attention but also the emotions of the observer on itself with the means of
sensory perfection.
Light and shade manage a live game of the surfaces and color layers. In
the inner area natural and artificial light exist with equal right and complete
each other.
The clear detectability as an indoor swimming pool and the creation of
an adequately arranged building under avoidance of scenery architecture was
central aim of the architectural concept and design.
The room effect is caused by the architectural gesture: light, color,
material and room form create a surrounding with a high re-reconnaissance
factor. The innovative artificial lighting engineering supports the natural
light conditions in order that different atmospheres can be created seamlessly
– a soften pleasure on the bathing stay is guaranteed even on misty winter’s
days.
Besides the sporting training more and more indoor swimming pool
visitors are looking primarily for a leisure experience with diversion and
entertainment for the whole family: leisure and pleasure baths with vacation
ambiance, experience catering trade and comprehensive offers for relaxation,
pleasure and entertainment form the basis for steadily high and still
increasing numbers of visitors.
Focused on the function an architectural aim therefore was also an
attractive weather independent bathing supply for everyone, an appealing
teaching supply for schools and also an complete offer of training water
expanses for the organization sports.
On the inside there is on an area of 7.500 m² a big variety of
possibilities to be active in the water, like two competition pools, an
adventure pool with a black hole water slide (with music and light show), a
huge recreational spa area with sauna, steam bath and Jacuzzi, furthermore
there is a restaurant and shops like barber or massage therapist. The range of
possibilities being active is well rounded by playgrounds and a large pool on
the outside, where you have an amazing view on the mountain landscape of the
area.
The project came out of an international competition in 2006, covering
the topics of planning, building and financing.
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