Varraku swimming center

The regatta organized in Tallinn as part of the 1980 Moscow Olympics, and the sports buildings created for it, strongly affected the city, opening a window to the outside world. Now is the turn for the Varraku swimming center to continue this tradition: through sports architecture, a new chapter will be written in the development history of the Lasnamäe district. Where the sailing regatta made Tallinn more international, the new swimming pool will help bring international sports events to Lasnamäe. The Varraku swimming center will not be just a swimming pool – instead, it will be an open and accessible public building that renews and enlivens an entire district, and enriches its story. The Varraku swimming center will integrate the area with the city, diversifying the urban space and creating new layers and character to it.

The architectural expression proposed for the swimming center is fresh, youthful and sporty. The design emphasizes openness and hospitality and supports the public character of the building. The proposal fits discreetly into the existing urban environment while creating the swimming center a recognizable identity next to he Tondiraba Sports Center.

The basic principle in ALA’s competition entry is a flexible, yet uncompromising spatial program. All wet rooms are located on the ground floor, ensuring easy access for everyone and a clear and safe user experience for the swimming pool visitors. Despite the compactness of the site, the use of space is optimized, allowing various user groups to simultaneously use the pools. Swimming competitions, public use of the pools and spectator movement are organized to not interfere with each other. For safety reasons, the lifeguards’ stations are located in the middle of the space and have a direct view of the pools and the changing room entrances. The entrance area overlooks the 50-meter competition pool, while the smaller lap pool and the children’s pool are in quieter and more private areas. During larger events, it is possible to direct some of the audience circulation to external stairs, which can also be used as a stage for award ceremonies or as a viewing platform for events held on the square in front of the swimming center. A connecting bridge is designed to lead directly from the upper floor to the future spa hotel next door.

The main facade material of the building is light gray granite – durable, easy to maintain and timeless. Its modest color palette fits into the surroundings, giving the building a dignified look. The glass façades of the large pool hall are covered with vertical oak louvers offering protection from the sun. The southern façade, predominantly glass, is articulated with terraces, which add spatial depth to the façade and create a dialogue between the interior and the exterior. The underside of the roof, the outdoor stairs and the terraces are clad with oak to make entering the building feel welcoming. The canopy on the south side and the outdoor stairs are designed to have steel structures to add precision to the overall composition.

The load-bearing structures of the building are glulam, supporting the principles of sustainable construction. The interiors are spacious and user-friendly, emphasizing a clear and intuitive orientation. Natural light is brought in in a controlled manner. Durability, ease of maintenance and coziness are the defining factors in the choice of materials. A civil defense shelter is designed to be located in the basement. Under normal conditions, this space serves partly as staff welfare area and partly as storage space. The building is designed to have a green roof that slows down rainwater runoff, reduces the heat island effect and simplifies rainwater management. Additionally, solar panels can be installed on the roof.