Liberec is preparing the reconstruction of the swimming pool with its original author

Liberec - Liberec is working with architect Pavel Švancer on the preparation of a complete reconstruction of the swimming stadium. It was according to his design that the pool was built in 1984 at Tržní náměstí. This was announced today in a press release by the city spokesperson Jan Král.

Švancer has become an advisor to the working group for the modernization of the pool. "His experience is a great asset for us. He consults with the working group on important steps in the preparation of project documentation," stated Mayor Tibor Batthyány (former ANO).

The pool urgently needs renovation, with costs estimated up to 650 million crowns. The technology is outdated, the roof leaks, the glazing of the building is inadequate, and the pool basin is leaking. The project is currently in the phase of preparing project documentation, and the actual renovation is expected to start sometime in 2020. The reconstruction of the pool is considered by Liberec's party leaders for the upcoming municipal elections as an investment priority for the city. However, they could not agree on a unified solution, with some of them advocating for the search for a cheaper variant costing around 300 million crowns. ANO even proposes building another pool near the multifunctional arena in addition to the reconstruction of the existing stadium.

The current swimming stadium at Tržní náměstí was highly rated by experts at the time of its inception, according to Král. "It became one of the most successful realizations of contemporary architecture in the city. The significance of the building is confirmed by the awards that Pavel Švancer received - the prize from the International Biennale Interarch in Sofia in 1987 and the Josef Havlíček Award in 1988," the city spokesperson said. According to him, Švancer did not limit himself to just the building during its construction but also addressed the adjacent area of Tržní náměstí, which he designed as a resting space. The stadium is also complemented by an artwork known as the Drop. Artists Jan Lukáš and Oldřich Plíva deliberately made the granite surface ripple with a drop made of stainless steel.

Architect Švancer worked, among other places, in the studio of Karel Hubáček. Among his other well-known works are the memorial in Ležáky, the predator pavilion at Liberec Zoo, and the House of Culture in Litoměřice. He is also a co-author of the conversion of the Hedva textile factory into the entertainment complex Centrum Babylon in Liberec.