The new Zwide swimming pool project arose in response to concerns from community members and sports developers who felt there was a need for more support initiatives for young swimmers from disadvantaged areas. The existing municipal swimming pool in Zwide Township, located between Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage, was in a state of disrepair and had to be completely demolished. The same site was then used for the construction of the new Zwide swimming pool.
In addition to the Olympic-sized swimming pool, the client, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, requested the inclusion of a baby pool, an administrative area, changing rooms, a filtration plant, and a superintendent’s residence to ensure the pool could be monitored and maintained 24/7.
With a limited budget, the design approach was to elaborate on a group of simple buildings to introduce an element of design without significant cost to the client. This was achieved by landscaping the site into a series of curves and incorporating them into the building façades and boundary walls. The entrance is highlighted by an angled canopy that rises high above the other buildings. Playfulness is introduced into the design through colour, particularly with the plum-coloured brickwork of the buildings and the colourful seating scattered throughout the site.
The cloakroom layout was arranged to create optimal circulation space for users. Additionally, a disabled toilet and shower were included, making the facility wheelchair accessible. A 1.1-meter-high curved wall screens the exposed drainage from the street, allowing the curves and playful elements to continue into the façade design.
By grouping the administrative facilities together, a central control point for the supervisor was created. The supervisor’s office, located near the main entrance and aligned with the deepest part of the main pool, features large, glazed openings to allow maximum visibility of both pools and their swimmers. A tuck-shop and its storage area were placed adjacent to the supervisor’s office for convenience.
The filtration plant, located away from the main activities due to its limited access requirements, serves as the point where water from the swimming pool, borehole, and water harvesting system is processed and distributed as needed.
noh ARCHITECTS 