Listed outdoor pool, newly renovated
The Solothurn open-air swimming pool is to be completely refurbished during the breaks in the season over a period of three years. It is available to bathers in the summer months. The last phase of the renovation should be completed in May 2022.
In three consecutive winters, the Solothurn outdoor pool is transformed into a construction site. In the first winter, 2019/20, the sports pool at Badi Solothurn was renovated. In the second and third winter, it is the turn of the outdoor swimming pool to be built.
The two stages of renovation of the buildings were preceded by a municipal council decision, a municipal assembly decision and a referendum. In the latter case, the people approved the restructuring loan of 7.8 million francs in February 2020 with 86.7 percent yes-votes.
The renovation is intended to remedy safety deficiencies, the swimming pool is to be made more accessible, processes are to be optimized and visitor flows are to be unbundled, and there should be more showers and toilets. Overall, the outdoor pool should offer guests more comfort after the renovation. Since it is a listed building, the visible changes must be subtle.
With the start of the 2021 bathing season in mid-May, the first phase of renovation in the Solothurn outdoor pool was completed. In this first phase of renovation, underground technical work was the main task. The building structure was repaired and safety deficiencies were corrected. In addition, the northern parts of the extension from 1964, where the entrance area and cloakrooms are located, were renewed in this phase. The construction of new showers and a new cloakroom area also started, which will continue in the second stage.
The second stage of the building construction will begin this year after the end of the bathing season in September 2021. Then the southern part of the extension building with a restaurant, kiosk, cloakrooms, showers and toilets will be renewed. A new lift will enable people with walking difficulties to access the restaurant.
Some preparation and follow-up work may overlap with the end or the start of the bathing season. The outdoor swimming pool should always be possible. The renovated Solothurn outdoor pool is due to go into operation in mid-May 2022.