Mvdv
Dutch studio MVRDV was chosen to radically renew a disabled church. The old place of worship is being transformed into a public pool, with a mobile floor that allows visitors to “walk on water.”
Deactivated since 2023, the centenary Church of St. Francis of AssisiIn Heerlen, in the Netherlands, it will now be rebuilt – and transformed into a public pool.
The ambitious project, which is in charge of the influential Dutch studio, in collaboration with the architectural office Zecc Architecten, will imply the removal of the existing floor to give way to the pool – to which the authors gave the irreverent name of Holy Water (Benta Water).
Church banks will be reused, becoming seats for swimmers and bar tables for spectators. The old pulpitin turn, will be transformed into a post to a salvador swimmer. The pool will be covered with a removable pavement that will allow its use as an event space.
“The removable floor of the pool brings flexibility to the space that was once the church ship, allowing it welcome a variety of activities Beyond swimming, ”explains the MVRDV on the presentation page of the.
“This floor also makes it possible fill all the space with a thin layer of water, creating a Impressive Church Reflection that gives visitors the feeling that can walk over water.”
New space lighting will be consistent with the original design of the church, and watch walls will be adorned with a mosaic floor, adequately framing the Original Vitals of Church Windowsthat will be maintained – such as the tubular organ and the religious paintings that decorated the old church.
Finally, the church roof will be isolated to improve its global thermal performance, and the pool space will be surrounded by glass walls, in order to protect the old wood from moisture and the historical elements of the church and preserve your spirit.
