The new Hirschbachbad now provides the town of Aalen with a multi-purpose leisure centre that combines sport, leisure, a sauna and an outdoor pool in a single location whilst demonstrating a unique architectural interaction with the landscape. The new building is situated in the Hirschbach Valley, a sensitive landform on the outskirts of the town. Rather than having the valley dominated by a large, compact structure, 4a Architekten have designed the bathing complex in such a way that it blends in with the topography. The result is a style of architecture that is restrained while still establishing a distinctive identity of its own.
The design is the result of an architectural competition in which 4a Architekten won first prize. This has created a modern aquatic leisure and sports centre that meets the requirements of a public swimming facility whilst also fulfilling the desire to offer a high-quality bathing experience for visitors.
The valley remains free
The central concept behind the design is one of integration into the landscape. In order to preserve the fresh-air corridor of the Hirschbach Valley and to prevent the valley from becoming overbuilt, the building has been positioned on the hillside. The storeys, roof surfaces and terraces are shaped by the topography and are staggered along the contour lines. The greened rooftops, recesses and the terraces and outdoor swimming pool areas in front of the building integrate the structure neatly into its surroundings. This in turn results in the baths appearing to form a natural part of the landscape. The indoor and outdoor areas are closely connected to each other; the terraces, sunbathing areas and pool landscapes continue the building’s spatial layering within the open space.
A spa for sport, leisure and relaxation
The Hirschbachbad brings together a variety of uses under one roof. The indoor swimming complex features a 25-metre sports pool, a teaching pool with a height-adjustable floor, a diving pool, a leisure pool, a paddling pool as well as a landing pool for the tube slide. The facilities are complemented by the outdoor pool area that features a 50-metre sports pool, a recreational pool and a children’s paddling area. There is also a sauna area with a Finnish sauna, a panoramic sauna, a steam room, a relaxation room and an outdoor plunge pool. The building is organised so that visitors can easily find their bearings and to ensure that it operates cost-effectively. The different areas are arranged according to their function whilst still remaining physically connected with each other. Visual references make it easier for visitors to find their way around and create an open, welcoming sense of space. Accessibility has also played an integral role throughout the planning process, and every key area can be accessed without steps.
Die Organisation des Gebäudes ist auf eine klare Orientierung und einen wirtschaftlichen Betrieb ausgelegt. Die unterschiedlichen Bereiche sind funktional gegliedert und zugleich räumlich miteinander verbunden. Sichtbezüge erleichtern die Orientierung und schaffen ein offenes, freundliches Raumgefühl. Auch die Barrierefreiheit war von Beginn an integraler Bestandteil der Planung: Alle wesentlichen Bereiche sind stufenlos erreichbar.
Licht, views and atmosphere
The staggered hillside location creates a wide range of possibilities for daylight and views. Large glazed surfaces, skylights and recessed levels allow natural light to reach deep into the building. The indoor pool areas open out into the countryside while the indoor and outdoor facilities blend seamlessly into one another. This sense of spatial openness is an essential feature of the design. Particularly in a swimming pool that caters to a wide variety of user groups – from school and club sports, to families, to those seeking relaxation – this creates an atmosphere that combines ease of navigation, clarity and a pleasant environment.
Colour and material schemes with a local focus
The outward appearance of the complex also makes reference to the location. The near-natural ore-coloured tone of the cladding captures the range of colours to be seen in the landscape whilst also evoking the local history of Aalen, where ore was mined until the 20th century. The colour scheme of the interior is deliberately understated. Accents in fresh shades of green and pink bring both the children’s play area and the slide area especially to life. A more vibrant colour scheme was chosen for the areas located further down the hillside, such as the changing rooms and showers. This adds a particular vibrancy to the rooms from within, giving them an identity of their own. The interplay of materials, colour and light facilitates orientation and plays a key role in creating the friendly atmosphere that the spa possesses.
Sustainability as the interplay between technology, usage and landscape
The sustainability concept of the Hirschbachbad combines energy-efficient technology with durable architecture that is designed for long-term operation and is carefully integrated into the landscape. A photovoltaic system on the roof generates electricity while solar collectors help heat the water for the outdoor swimming pool.
Heat recovery systems and efficient heat exchangers help to reduce energy consumption during operation. At the same time, sustainability is reflected here not only in technical performance indicators. The compact design, integration into the landscape and robust, durable construction are also part of a responsible approach to resource management. The building is intended for long-term use – in terms of function, ambience and urban design.
The Hirschbachbad in Aalen is a public bathing complex that is far more than the sum of its pools and functional areas. It combines the requirements of a modern combined indoor and outdoor pool facility with a clear architectural vision in which the landscape forms a defining element of the design. This makes the Hirschbachbad a contemporary venue for sport, leisure and relaxation – and an example of how swimming pool design today can be taken to the next level in terms of integration into the landscape, functionality and aesthetics.
