While Portugal’s capital Lisbon is located on the seafront, residents and tourists often flock to the closest beaches on the hottest days of the year, causing both overcrowded beaches and traffic jams. Pools in the city are sparse and offer little relief.
In order to solve part of that problem, X Atelier and Atelier Baum have now designed the Loop Pool Tejo, which combines easier river access on the Tagus (once used for swimming) with a self-filtering pool and a solarium. In order for the project to be possible, the redevelopment of the existing Braço de Prata pontoon and its transformation into a platform linking the city to its river is necessary.
“The LOOPPOOL_tejo project arises from the interest of providing bathing spaces in the Tagus estuary. The intersection of this need with the desire to value and revitalize Pontão de Braço Prata results in a public swimming pool serving not only residents of this area but the entire city”, Atelier Baum explains.
The design of the pool was inspired by a drop of water, essentially circular in shape. The central part of the structure would be used as a pool both for recreational and professional swimming, while the surrounding deck would allow people to circulate. Moreover, a bench would be integrated on the North-facing side, while the West side would function as a diving jump point. The lower circle on the waterlevel would be a secluded space to sunbathe, protected from the elements.
“This architectural intervention thus appears as a sculptural element, which seeks to establish an analogy between the pragmatic and functional form of the pier that exists here with the fluidity inherent to the waters of the Tagus River. This dialogue of forms reacts imperceptibly to the needs of the practices that are foreseen here”, Atlier Baum writes.
Even though the shape of the Loop Pool is particular compared to others, many cities are considering the idea or actively working towards the development of open-air pools, often located on the water. Earlier this year, for example, New York City unveiled the plans for a floating pool, to open in 2025.
