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The rehabilitation of ageing swimming pools and aquatic facilities - a major economic and environmental issue - is to be a key theme at the Piscine Global trade show being held in the French city of Lyon from 19th to 22nd November.

With France resembling Australia in having a tradition of investment in public swimming pools, with most towns and cities having a ‘Piscine Municipale’, Piscine Global, one of the world’s largest aquatic industry trade events, will feature solutions for the updating an renovation of both private and community swimming pools.

Much of France’s infrastructure of public swimming pools was built before 1977 as part of the national ‘1000 piscines’ (1,000 swimming pools) plan launched in the late 1960s, with 60% of the nation’s pools now over 30 years old.

Updating includes a range of approaches recognising the public’s new expectations in terms of swimming, as well as relaxation and wellbeing (hammams, saunas and spas), recreation (activities, waterslides and gyms) and comfort.

Commenting on the challenge, the organisers of Piscine Global advise “renovating these public swimming pools is not only an opportunity for professionals in the pool industry but is also of key interest for local authorities which must bear the cost in a budgetary context that is often tight.”

William Vassal of Lyon-based Z Architecture, who will be addressing the Piscine Global conference, has experience of issues facing ageing pools having led the renovation of Piscine Tournesol (Sunflower Pool) in Les Abrets-en-Dauphiné in southeastern France. 

He explains “in 2020, the Communauté de Communes Les Vals du Dauphiné launched a competition to restore their sunflower swimming pool located on the edge of a park with a large clearing.

“They wanted to keep the sunflower swimming pool, an authentic piece of 20th-century architectural history and add a new section that corresponds with current expectations.

“They also demanded exemplary solutions to architectural, energy and environmental challenges, such as the installation of solar panels for electricity and pool water preheating, insulation of the centre, water and chlorine treatment.

In approaching the project, Vassal stated “we suggested a new building that blends into the surroundings and stands back from the ‘flying saucer’ of the sunflower pool: a box with rounded corners.

“The extension we suggested is adjacent and clad in mirror-polished stainless steel that reflects the neighbouring forest. This enables seamless integration and almost gives the impression that the building is not there.

“As far as the sunflower pool is concerned, we didn’t want to lose the purity of the half-sphere.

"To keep it and at the same time add two water lines and a movable floor, we took the gamble of emptying the inside of the sunflower pool and turning the pool 90° to be in line with the changing rooms and the open half-shell. This allowed us to expose the large volume of the sphere.

“Where possible, we also re-used materials from the deconstruction and used local companies for the project (bricklayer, electrician, plasterer).”

From the project, Vassal has learnings for local authorities wanting to renovate their swimming Pool, noting “my first piece of advice is to visit three or four facilities that are like the project they envision so that they can get real feedback.

“The mayor, the sports director and the pool manager should find the means and take the time to meet other elected representatives and managers so that they can develop an understanding of refurbishment: how much it costs, what are the constraints, what are the uses, how profitable it is, etc.

“In this way, they can develop their expertise before launching their call for tenders, and with full knowledge of the facts, be able to discuss with the project management support services.

“Another important point is that environmental requirements must be weighed up against the financial implications and the impact on building morphology. The design of swimming pools should change, particularly in terms of the excessive amount of glazed surface area.

“All too often, clients mistakenly believe that rehabilitation and re-use are cheaper than new construction.

“This is not always the case. Asbestos removal and deconstruction take time and money. There are more hazards because you don’t always know what you’re going to find when you deconstruct.

"Often, the price is quite close to that of a new swimming pool, but the project is more virtuous, with a much better carbon footprint because of reuse and the limited consumption of raw materials.

“Today, swimming pools are one of the last places where people can live together in true diversity. “We see more and more projects being called into question because of the issues of water supply, the cost of energy and salaries, etc.

“On the contrary, we think that as part of ‘living (well) together’, it is very important to continue to renovate and build public, cultural and sports facilities (such as swimming pools), while ensuring that they consume less.

“As the French artist Ben once wrote, ‘if you think culture is expensive, try ignorance!’

“Something to think about.”

Piscine Global 2024
As the sector’s key trade event, Piscine Global takes a fresh look at the industry and the challenges it faces in 2024 with the show acting as a driving force behind the transformation of the pool industry and its stakeholders.

During its four days of conferences and workshops, professionals will also have a chance to reflect, understand and discuss the major issues facing the sector.

Renovation will be one of the major themes for 2024 and will provide an opportunity to benefit from feedback and project presentations to re-evaluate and plan better for future projects.

Pool Innovation Awards competition
The Piscine Global trade show will also showcase the best innovations in the industry at the Pool Innovation Awards competition, judged by a jury of international professionals and opinion leaders.

The winners will be honoured at the Piscine Global 2024 show in a dedicated area in the heart of the Trends Hub.

Exhibitors can submit their applications from 26th June to 30th September 2024.

Piscine Global is being held at Euroexpo Lyon from 19th to 22nd November.

Click here for more information.

Images: The entry area at Piscine Global in 2018 (top, credit: Piscine Global Europe/Nicolas Rodet), Piscine Tournesol in Les Abrets-en-Dauphiné (middle) and William Vassal of Z Architecture (below).

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