SWIMMING POOL EXTENSION IN BAGNEUX BY DOMINIQUE COULON & ASSOCIÉS

Beautiful renovation of a 1950s swimming pool that still respects the original structure

Public swimming pools could be described as a cesspool of microbes drowned in chlorine. Yes, sharing a single basin of water with dozens of strangers can be a less than appealing, but this public pool renovation in the Parisian suburbs might win some converts.

Dominique Coulon & Associés modernized the pool’s existing structure by adding an exterior extension that includes a layer of exterior insulation and a large cantilever to shelter the entryway. The light grey concrete of the new extension melds with the cement facade. Large, vertical concrete fins create volume and presence, towering over a first-floor wooden terrace whose sun-warmed planks become a sort of urban beach in warm weather.

Inside, the structure of the central pool area was kept, but bathed in white. The walls become a blank canvas to catch and reflect the light that bounces off of the water, while simultaneously making the space seem larger. A ribbon of bright blue marks the bleachers, mimicking the pool’s deep water. The blue continues into the stairwell and is used in other functional areas.

In direct contrast with the geometric exterior, organic forms are used in the new extension. Windows, doors and the children’s paddling pool are defined by gentle curves that absorb sound and soften the interior. A porthole in the floor of the paddling pool lets light flood the hallway between the pool and the spa area, encouraging the inevitable play between water and light.