Refurbished Paris swimming pool features blue bleachers and an outdoor sunbathing deck

Photograph by Clement GuillaumeLight grey concrete used for the exterior of the extension matches the surface of the 1950s structure and gives the whole building a homogenous aesthetic that enhances its overall sense of scale. Photograph by David Romero-Uzeda»In this building curves are placed in the extension side,» said Coulon. The curved volumes follow the movement of the swimmers, proposing improved inclusive ergonomics.»
Photograph by David Romero-UzedaThe children’s paddling pool is contained in a curving space designed to create a cocoon-like feel while helping to reduce ambient noise created by reverberations. Photograph by Clement GuillaumeA porthole-shaped opening in the floor of the paddling area lets blue-tinged light filter down into the corridor, connecting the spa facilities on the ground floor. Photograph by David Romero-UzedaThe concrete-lined volume above the entrance creates a decked area for sunbathing, lined on one side by a row of vertical fins supporting a surface aligned with the roof of the main building. A new wall of glazing allows daylight to   reflect off the original blue-painted bleachers and onto the ceiling of this swimming pool in the Paris suburb of Bagneux, which has been renovated and extended by Dominique Coulon et Associés (+ slideshow). Photograph by David Romero-UzedaA large cantilever shelters the entrance and creates a connection between the foyer and the public space provided by the forecourt outside. «Following Rem Koolhaas’s concept of lobotomy, the volumes inside are independent of the exterior envelope. A new insulated envelope surrounding this frame was added along with a glazed curtain wall and an extension to the front of the building. Photograph by David Romero-Uzeda»Preserving the original building helped reduce the cost of the project by 40 per cent,» architect Dominique Coulon   told Dezeen, adding that the intelligent combination of new and existing facilities also provided energy savings. Photograph by Clement GuillaumeCurvaceous shapes are also used in various other spaces within the extension, including the double-height relaxation area, where a rounded window opening creates a spot for relaxed lounging that looks out onto a small garden. Related story: Médiathèque d’Anzin by Dominique Coulon Associés»For example, the dressing rooms slide under the swimming pool, allowing the underside of the pool on the first floor to heat them.»
Photograph by Clement GuillaumeThe building’s structural framework was retained, along with two swimming pools and the adjacent bleachers. Photograph by David Romero-UzedaPhotography is by Clément Guillaume and David Romero-Uzeda.