Diving into the big bath

Developing a network, our communication and projects

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    Project entry 2011 Europe – Urban renewal and swimming-pool precinct, Berlin, Germany

    Panorama Flussbad - left side.

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    “It was an opportunity to transform a project for Berlin into a project for Berliners.” – Tim Edler & Jan Edler of realities:united, Germany.

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    Project entry 2011 Europe – Urban renewal and swimming-pool precinct, Berlin, Germany

    Siteplan.

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    Project update October 2016 – Flussbad: Urban renewal and swimming-pool precinct, Berlin, Germany

    Swimmers at an event promoting the Spreebad in the part of the canal next to the Museum Island. Photo: courtesy Annette Hauschild/Ostkreuz.

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    Keynote speech - Building for the future – challenges for sustainable construction - former United Nations Undersecretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Klaus Töpfer (Germany)

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    Mario Botta, member of the Global Holcim Awards jury 2012, Principal, Mario Botta Architetto, Switzerland, during an interview following the Global Holcim Awards Jury 2012 meeting in Zurich, Switzerland.

Today, everyone in Berlin is focused on the improbable reconstruction of the “Schloss”, the former palace of the Hohenzollern sovereigns. However, another project unfolding at its feet – less spectacular but altogether more avant-garde – seems to be earning so much praise from the profession that it won the LafargeHolcim Awards Gold for Europe in 2011, followed by a Global Award Bronze the year after.

Last updated: August 14, 2019 Berlin, Germany

Today, everyone in Berlin is focused on the improbable reconstruction of the “Schloss”, the former palace of the Hohenzollern sovereigns. However, another project unfolding at its feet – less spectacular but altogether more avant-garde – seems to be earning so much praise from the profession that it won the LafargeHolcim Awards Gold for Europe in 2011, followed by a Global Award Bronze the year after.

by Jean-Philippe Hugron

Who designed it? Tim and Jan Edler, the Berlin architects of realities:united. Their idea? To transform a branch of the River Spree into an ideal place for swimming, literally and in German, into a “Flussbad”. “It is an attempt to reuse an overlooked part of the city to give it renewed life and highlight its historical significance. I saw in this project the awareness of the importance of providing people with spaces to meet and spend time together and the praiseworthy commitment to promote and enhance sustainable urban life,” says Mario Botta, member of the jury of the Global LafargeHolcim Awards in 2012.

After winning these prizes, realities:united was all the more determined to found the non-profit association ‘Flussbad Berlin’. “It was an opportunity to transform a project for Berlin into a project for Berliners,” explains Jan Edler, co-founder of the German office. “These prizes enabled us to develop a network, our communication and projects. In parallel, the international recognition opened discussions in the Senate of Berlin and among the elected members of the City parliament on the subject of Flussbad,” he adds. Moreover, the prizes indirectly led to other features being added to the project such as the “Flussbad Pokal”, the “Flussbad Garten”, the “Flussbad Akademie” and many other new possibilities.

Jan and Tim Edler share their experience in the special edition of international design magazine L’Architecture d’Aujourd’hui (AA) dedicated to architecture competitions. Read the full interview and jury member comments by Mario Botta, Architect, founder of Mario Botta Architetti office, Mendrisio, Switzerland and Klaus Töpfer, former German Environment Minister.

Diving into the big bath: Interview with realities:united (English flip book)

Plongée dans le grand bain: Entretien with realities:united (French flip book)

Una zambullida en la gran piscina: Entrevista con realities:united (Spanish flip book)

botta-mar12zrh001.jpg2_klaus_toepfer02.jpgJury comments

“The Flussbad is more than just a big swimming pool. It proposes a playful amenity which will enrich the existing conglomeration of museums by providing public recreational space.” – Mario Botta, Architect, founder of Mario Botta Architetti office, Mendrisio, Switzerland and Member of the Global LafargeHolcim Awards jury in 2012.

“The Flussbad is a poetic metamorphosis of a rather undefined public space into an activated urban landscape.It creates ecological and public benefits, is a strong example for sustainable water management and an important attempt towards sustainable urban life.” – Klaus Töpfer, former German Environment Minister and Member of the Board of the LafargeHolcim Foundation from 2004 to 2013.