2022 Open Competition
The design for the new Sonnenberg swimming facility positions itself precisely within this natural context. The new volumes take up the placement of the existing buildings, with the indoor pool integrated into the northern slope and the remaining functions organized in a low-rise structure to the east. Together, the two volumes define generous terraces on their roofs: the lower terrace enhances the surrounding public realm and creates a welcoming arrival with a centrally placed entrance, while the upper terrace offers play areas with privileged views. An archetypal house-like volume—the covered service court—links the two levels and provides optimal delivery access. In addition, the two buildings frame a third, natural terrace: the outdoor pool with a sunbathing lawn shielded from outside views.
Echoing the historic open-air pool, the project nestles into the topography and develops horizontally, with only a few vertical accents emerging: a slide tower for the pool, a spiral staircase, a barn-like gabled roof over the service court, and a round elevator shaft. These vertical elements rise as abstract geometries within a mountain garden close to nature.
The façade brings together two materials—concrete and wood. Concrete, evoking the mineral character of the surrounding mountains, is left visible in the unheated zones. Elsewhere, vertical timber slats and wooden window frames visually embed the building into the village fabric. Freestanding exterior elements such as staircases, elevators, and slides are proposed in stainless steel to ensure durability.