Harbour bath at Islands Brygge in Copenhagen

In connection with the development of a new park at Islands Brygge in Copenhagen, tests were conducted in 2002 about establishing a harbour swimming pool in the – at the time very polluted – harbour. The “test swimming pool” was a great success after which is was decided to establish a new permanent harbour swimming pool at Islands Brygge. The original mobile harbour swimming pool is still in use near the shopping mall Fisketorvet on the opposite side of the harbour.

For the Danish Foundation for Culture and Sports Facilities it was vital that the harbour swimming pool was designed by the talented drawing office PLOT. Behind the name PLOT were two young almost newly qualified architects called Bjarke Ingels and Julien De Smedt. They prepared a project which in a bold, innovative and aesthetical way was the first modern proposal for a permanently established harbour swimming pool in Denmark. The harbour swimming pool became a scenically beautiful and functional solution that – not least in connection with the quay – breaks away from the usual pontoon look. The harbour swimming pool has quickly become an icon of the new and appealing harbour area in Copenhagen and can be seen in many mentions and marketing efforts for Copenhagen.

The harbour swimming pool has a paddling pool with a firm bottom and low water depth, a 750 m² big exercise pool, a large diving pool, with a stylised rock to jump from and a 200 m² large playing pool with a firm bottom.