von Gerkan, Marg and Partners Architects 01 Press release 2017-06-07 blu at the Brauhausberg hill New sports and leisure pool in Potsdam opened The new municipal sports and leisure pool, blu, in Potsdam has been completed to a design by gmp von Gerkan, Marg and Partners Architects. The opening ceremony took place on 6 June and regular operation starts today. Situated directly opposite the main railway station, the new development is the first significant element of the new city topography around the Brauhausberg hill, the open spaces of which are allocated to high-density housing. In this context, the design develops a new, explicitly urban swimming pool complex typology which, owing to its compact layout, manages to retain part of the site as open space following the tradition of the place. For further information please contact: Claudia Tiesler T +49.40.88 151 123 ctiesler@gmp-architekten.de PR & Communications Elbchaussee 139 22763 Hamburg T +49.40.88 151 0 F +49.40.88 151 177 communication@ gmp-architekten.de
Page 2 of 6 Countryside or city? This question was asked on several occasions during the protracted and changeable planning history of the new sports and leisure pool in Potsdam. And even when a citizen s opinion poll finally swung the pendulum towards the central location at the foot of the Brauhausberg hill even though, previously, a location on virgin land had been preferred, the dominant urban design motif for this location remained ambivalent. The decision in favor of a decidedly urban concept was finally made via the 2013 architectural competition. The competition was won by gmp with a design featuring clear layout lines, a logical orientation of the interior and exterior spaces, and deliberate visual references to the closer and more distant surroundings. The neighboring urban areas referenced in the architecture of the pool complex are only just being created at the time of the complex s opening, such as the open space axis with the forecourt to the east which is part of the project and the pool s lawn for sunbathing at the rear. The same applies to the development of the Speicherstadt quarter, which will be created to the north following the curved building line of the entrance facade, and to the planned additional development section to the south. The sports pool, leisure pool, and wellness area are all located within a nearly square building with about 8,000 m 2 usable floor area. The two large zones of the sports pool and the leisure area are separated by two enclosed volumes for the service and changing room areas, which are divided by the central concourse that runs east to west. This layout ensures that the orientation at every point within the complex is very clear, and that all functions are accessed via short routes and can be operated independently of each other. The spacious arrangement of the leisure pool lies to the west, while the sports pool complex with 50 m pool for water polo and competitive swimming faces towards the east. The wellness area is located in the uppermost story and is visually shielded, offering just a few specific views to the outside. The closed facade areas, which like a meandering ribbon enclose the building, have been finished uniformly with a robust mineralbased natural render. The services installations have also been incorporated in the building complex so that no additional structures on the roof interfere with the fifth facade that can be seen from the Brauhausberg hill. Competition 2013 1st prize Design Volkwin Marg and Hubert Nienhoff with Kristian Spencker Project management Kristian Spencker, Michael Scholz Competition design team Silvia Schneider, Katja Godejohann, Veit Lieneweg, Daniel Tomé Detailed design team Silvia Schneider, Katja Godejohann, Kerstin Fuchs, Claudia Chiappini, Chris Hättasch, Christiane Putschke-Tomm, Julia Hilgenberg, Katerine Witte, Elke Glass In a consortium venture with emproc, BPM (building and cost management), big Bechtold Ingenieurgesellschaft mbh (technical services installations), HMI Hartwich/Mertens/Ingenieure Planungsgesellschaft für Bauwesen mbh (structural engineers), Capatti Staubach urbane Landschaften (landscaping), Müller BBM GmbH (building physics and fire safety) Acoustics engineering Rekowski and Partners, consulting engineers Health & Safety coordinator Genthe Bauingenieure GmbH Client Stadtwerke Potsdam GmbH Construction period 2014 2017 GFA 19,300 m² Certified for water polo and competitive swimming FINA C
Page 3 of 6 02 03 04 05 06 To download high-resolution images use the following link: http://www.gmp-architekten.com/news/press-release.html Please note the advice for rights of use and copyright on the last page of this document. 01 Perspective with site fence Marcus Bredt 02 Perspective in twilight Marcus Bredt 03 Foyer Marcus Bredt 04 Hair dryer corridor Marcus Bredt 05 50-m sports pool Marcus Bredt 06 50-m sports pool Marcus Bredt
Page 4 of 6 07 08 09 10 11 12 To download high-resolution images use the following link: http://www.gmp-architekten.com/news/press-release.html Please note the advice for rights of use and copyright on the last page of this document. 07 50-m sports pool Marcus Bredt 08 Baby pool Marcus Bredt 09 Family pool Marcus Bredt 10 Relax area, sauna Marcus Bredt 11 Sauna with view into the open Marcus Bredt 12 Indoor and outdoor pool of the sauna Marcus Bredt
gmp von Gerkan, Marg and Partners Architects Page 5 of 6 13 14 15 16 17 To download high-resolution images use the following link: http://www.gmp-architekten.com/news/press-release.html Please note the advice for rights of use and copyright on the last page of this document. 13 Site plan gmp Architects 14 Floor plan, first floor gmp Architects 15 Sections gmp Architects 16 Floor plan, second floor gmp Architects 17 Floor plan, third floor gmp Architects
Page 6 of 6 Please note: Free-of-charge publication is only permitted as an editorial contribution on the architecture of architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (gmp) in the context of this press release. A complete naming of the authors of the picture and plan material in clear assignment is obligatory. Should you intend to use the material in any other way, you are obliged to clarify any issues of copyright and right of use directly and independently with the photographers. If you are a product manufacturer, supplier or contractor and are interested in using the image material, please contact us and the photographer. We kindly ask to send a reference copy to the PR contact as stated. For further information please contact: Claudia Tiesler T +49.40.88 151 123 ctiesler@gmp-architekten.de PR & Communications Elbchaussee 139 22763 Hamburg T +49.40.88 151 0 F +49.40.88 151 177 communication@ gmp-architekten.de