BOV Estudio's project is conceived as a shrewd transition between spaces that respond to the privacy required in each of the contained uses. The cross-section responds to the first glance of the user who finds himself in front of a barrier that separates him from the field, the course under the dim light of the changing rooms that open up again to the immense exterior in the bathing area.
Like a visual journey through different skins that begins in the external envelope, where the steel slats coexist with the concrete, crossing textures and colours in the changing rooms where the intense turquoise of the wet areas contrasts with the pale grey of the dry ones, and ending with the lawn of the swimming pool and a panoramic view of the rural horizon.
Public swimming pools by BOV estudio. Photography by Javier Bravo.
Description of project by BOV Estudio
The new swimming pools of Alfoz de Quintanadueñas are located on the northern edge of the town, right at the boundary between the urban and rural landscapes. This location, between residential areas and cultivated fields, serves as inspiration for the initial design of a building conceived as a "filter" between the built environment and the natural world, between public spaces and bathing areas. This concept is expressed both on the exterior and interior of the building, manifesting through successive layers and creating a coherent transition that guides visitors from the street to the water.
The envelope adopts a distinctly horizontal proportion, aligning with the street. It acts as a longitudinal separator, interrupted at intervals (a filter) by openings that reconnect the village with the surrounding countryside. These openings emerge naturally, resulting from the separation of different functions, allowing for the organization and hierarchy of spaces while following the slope of the street to ensure universal accessibility.
The exterior skin is constructed using in-situ concrete walls, interrupted by a lattice structure that filters light into the interior. The position and scale of this element, composed of a rhythm of steel slats aligned with the concrete joints, are tailored to meet the specific needs and privacy requirements of each space.
Beyond the outer layer, additional internal layers guide visitors from the bright entrance to the natural open area, passing through the sheltered changing rooms. These layers contrast the transitional areas with the wet and dry zones of the changing rooms. They are realized as a lighter skin, made of continuous ceramic finishes. The monochromatic turquoise tones of the internal wet spaces, inspired by the aquatic landscape, create a striking contrast with the raw texture of the concrete and the fragmented natural light filtering through the lattices that shape the surrounding dry areas.
This spatial journey invites a visual and sensory experience, following an intuitive and coherent transition that addresses functionality and the varying levels of privacy required. The interplay of views between spaces and the building's cross-section are crucial to understanding the project, which counters the apparent horizontality seen at first glance.
Upon exiting the building, the natural landscape of Quintanadueñas reappears, now blended with the garden and the pools (both multipurpose and splash pools). The circulation becomes fluid, with distinct areas for rest and movement, defined by the arrangement of the pools, their surrounding decks, and paths. These elements are thoughtfully oriented and constructed using natural materials with soft textures, aiming for harmony between the built environment, nature, and water.
