Kecskemét Competition Swimming Pool and Adventure Bath

The new competition swimming pool and adventure bath in Kecskemét was developed next to the city’s existing open-air bathing complex and forms part of a wider sports and recreational area. The building brings together the different requirements of competitive sport, youth training, recreational bathing, wellness and hospitality within a single complex.

CÉH zRt. was awarded the commission through an invited architectural design competition. We provided comprehensive multidisciplinary design services and supported construction through intensive designer’s site supervision. Design and implementation took place between 2009 and 2012.

The functions of the approximately 13,000-square-metre, three-storey building are clearly separated while sharing common service systems. The basement accommodates the water-treatment plant rooms, storage areas, staff changing rooms and other operational spaces.

At ground-floor level, the competition area includes a 50-metre swimming pool, a warm-up pool and seating for 700 spectators. It is connected to the adventure bath, sauna world, wellness area, visitor changing rooms, entrance hall, restaurant and a kitchen capable of preparing 200 meals. The complex provides close to 2,800 square metres of covered water surface.

The upper floor contains fitness areas, athletes’ changing rooms and relaxation spaces. It also accommodates the medical, doping-control, administrative and VIP rooms required for competitions, together with major mechanical plant areas serving the building.

A key design challenge was to separate the circulation of athletes, spectators, recreational visitors and operational staff. At the same time, the design had to coordinate the humidity-control requirements of the large pool halls, water-treatment systems, structural solutions and a spatial layout that remains easy for visitors to understand.

The completed building supports national and international sporting events, daily training and recreational use by families and other visitors within