ALSTERPOOL

A 100-metre linear pool oriented toward the Außenalster brings open-water swimming back to Hamburg’s most iconic waterfront. Framed by an expansive wooden deck and a restrained single-storey pavilion, the project creates a seamless transition between city, park, and lake — a place to swim, pause, and connect with the landscape.

CLIENT

Bäderland Hamburg GmbH

CATEGORY

Wellness & Leisure

LOCATION

Hamburg, Germany.

YEAR

2007

[ OVERVIEW ]

Alsterpool, located on the waters of Hamburg’s Außenalster, adjacent to Schwanenwik Park, the project introduces a new public waterfront infrastructure that brings together landscape, architecture, and recreation within a single integrated system. Conceived as a lightweight horizontal intervention, the platform preserves and enhances the visual connection between the lake and Hamburg’s skyline while creating an open space for gathering, leisure, and sport. Combining a public swimming pool, boardwalk, terrace, and service pavilion, the project establishes a renewed relationship between the city and the water, transforming this iconic setting into an accessible and vibrant destination throughout the year.

Description

Alsterpool Hamburg

Located on the waters of the Außenalster, opposite Schwanenwik Park, Alsterpool establishes a new relationship between urban landscape, public space, and recreation. Taking advantage of the site’s exceptional setting—with panoramic views across the lake toward Hamburg’s skyline—the project introduces a public waterfront facility that integrates seamlessly into its natural surroundings while preserving the visual continuity between park and water.

The intervention is conceived as a lightweight horizontal structure that extends the geometry of the shoreline and enhances the experience of the landscape. Its footprint minimizes impact on the existing green areas by concentrating technical, service, and hospitality functions within a compact building and utilizing existing circulation routes for access and maintenance.

The development consists of a pile-supported promenade, a linear swimming pool of approximately 95 meters in length, and a support building housing public amenities and technical facilities. The pool appears to float on the water, creating a direct connection with the Alster and offering a unique swimming experience within the heart of the city.

The structure combines steel and timber systems specifically adapted to the demands of the waterfront environment. The ancillary building is designed as a lightweight framed construction enclosed by a timber louver façade that provides privacy, solar protection, and a coherent architectural identity aligned with the project’s open and natural character.

More than a sports facility, Alsterpool is envisioned as a new public destination on the water—a place for recreation, social interaction, and contemplation that expands the use of the waterfront and strengthens the relationship between the city and its aquatic landscape.

Architectural plans