With the new municipal swimming pool, Ronse will be gaining an extra recreational sports attraction. This new complex is located on the transition between urban and green areas, as an extension to the existing sports fields and sports hall ‘t Rosco. It fits in seamlessly with the guidelines of the master plan, while taking it to the next level at the same time.
A smart connection to the existing entrance hall brings all the sports together. The Rosco transforms from a sports hall to a sports complex.
The building itself is a floating complex, separated from the existing sports infrastructure but functionally connected by a glass building in between the two. Herein lies the controlled access and the extension of the existing cafeteria. The patio in that ‘connecting area’ offers a direct view of the pool and the green surroundings that lie behind it. The natural differences in height of the green area are incorporated into the pool itself, so it seems to be naturally integrated into the site.
The design is based on a simple principle: one large canopy, under (and on top of) which all swimming pool functions are grouped in a clear structure. The roof consists of an orthogonal grid of laminated wooden beams of 1m75 high. Each cell of this regular beam diffuser measures 1m75 by 1m75 and not only has a structural purpose but it also provides an organisational order in the design: all rooms, roof lights and box volumes are attuned to the dimensions of the roof, creating a perfect balance between the swimming pool’s generous and open plan on the one hand and the seclusion of the existing sports hall on the other.
