Built in the 1960s, the Marcinelle Aquatic Center is undoubtedly one of the most iconic projects by architect Jacques Depelsenaire and a landmark of the city of Charleroi. Its bold architecture, closely intertwined with the surrounding landscape, has made it one of the most beloved places for the people of Charleroi.
The client’s request focused on renovating the pools as well as the large deck areas, which are organized in response to the site’s complex topography. The architectural proposal involves overlaying a grid across the entire existing pool. This grid is conceived as an evolving element that transforms as it encounters the distinctive geometry of Jacques Depelsenaire’s design.
The result is a vast composition that can be viewed from above—whether from the surrounding neighborhood streets overlooking the site or from the panoramic terraces that form part of the image of the adjacent building.
