Mjölk Architekti and Marie Vondráková rebuild fire-ravaged Forest Pool in Liberec

A corrugated-metal roof supported by turquoise-coloured steelwork declares the renovation of this public pool house in the Czech Republic, completed by local studio Mjölk Architekti and architect Marie Vondráková.

Known as Lesní Koupaliště or Forest Pool, the building in a spruce forest in Liberec has been rebuilt following a fire in 2010 in which almost all of the site's facilities were lost.

Working in collaboration with Marie Vondráková from the Liberec City Architecture Office, Mjölk Architekti founded an association in 2020 to both manage and refurbish the pool house, which began its life as a site for military training in the second world war.

"We started with zero funding, so the only way to make improvements was through volunteer work," said Mjölk Architekti.

"Then came the building permit, granted in May 2022. Eventually, we negotiated a one-time financial contribution from the city to help finish the building and open full facilities in spring 2025."

Forest Pool's foundation is an existing concrete slab, which was all that remained of the previous pool house following the fire.

A new structure of cross-laminated timber (CLT) is positioned on top, containing storage, toilets, a sauna and a bistro.

Alongside this is a turquoise-painted steelwork, which supports a large corrugated aluminium roof.

This roof shelters a large outdoor seating area as well as verandas on either side of the main structure that have been partially enclosed by arched timber panelling.

"The resulting design focused on ease of construction, phaseability, and financial accessibility," said the studio. "The timber structure, following the two height levels of the original concrete slab, provides the core functional spaces of the building."

"The steel roof structure serves as both an umbrella and a parasol, sheltering the building and visitors from bad weather," it added.

Alongside the more visible overhaul of Forest Pool, the team also worked to improve the functionality of the site, repairing an on-site wastewater treatment system.

As part of the longer-term management of the site, Mjölk Architekti is also planning for further expansion, which it hopes will include a children's water feature, stepped seating and sports facilities.

Previous projects by Mjölk Architekti include a playful nursery extension in Jablonec nad Nisou that incorporates a steel slide and a mass timber headquarters building with an oversized gable roof for a timber and forestry company in Brumov-Bylnice.

The photography is by BoysPlayNice.

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