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exterior view
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Swimming Pool
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Swimming Pool
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Swimming Pool
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Swimming Pool
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Swimming Pool
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plan1
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section
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Les Bains des Docks Aquatic Complex
Ateliers Jean Nouvel. Le Havre, France
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Name of work in English
Les Bains des Docks Aquatic Complex
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Name of work in original language
Les Bains des Docks
Prize year
EUmies Awards 2009
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Work Location
Le Havre, France
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Studio
Ateliers Jean Nouvel
EUmies Awards 2009 Shortlisted
Program
Sport & Leisure
Completion
2008
The aquatic centre & whose entrance on the Quai de la Réunion faces the future Centre de la Mer & is a key project in the master plan to regenerate the historic Le Havre docklands. From the exterior, the building appears as a dense volume with random openings allowing views into the lightfilled interior, which is composed of a series of filtered spaces that progressively form the sequence of passage. The internal spaces seem to have been cut out of massive blocks, articulated by the ceiling's skylights and series of pools of different sizes and shapes.
A heated Olympic-sized pool is located on the exterior and in the summer, the facades can be opened so that there is continuity between the interior and exterior. Except for the children's area, which is composed of brightly-coloured foam elements, the surfaces are faced with white mosaic tiles that along with the water cast reflections throughout, creating a constant play of light and shadow.