Located on Otto-Runki-Platz in the heart of the city of Leipzig, the new indoor swimming pool Sportbad am Rabet lies between the urban traffic corridor along Eisenbahnstraße and the adjacent Rabet Park, from which the pool takes its name.

The building and its surrounding landscaped areas have enhanced the spatial quality of the site and redefined it as a social meeting place that brings together people of all ages and backgrounds.

The facility consists of rectangular units, separated by large-scale recesses, and borders the edge of the square to the north and west while retaining many of the existing trees to the south and east. To the southeast, the landscaped forecourt incorporates some of these old trees and seamlessly leads on to the neighboring park.

 

At Leipzig Sportbad am Rabet sports pool’s façade combines light-colored fair-faced concrete with a transparent base zone. The continuous floor-to-ceiling glazing creates a sense of openness, allows abundant natural light to enter the interior, and offers visual connections between inside and outside — which means the pool is a visible part of city life rather than being shut off from it.

Here, transparency serves as a means of communication and connection with the urban context. In this way, the swimming facility becomes a social hub for the neighborhood, actively fostering community interaction.

 

On the inside, glass and fair-faced concrete are also the defining features. Turquoise wall tiles pick up and continue the horizontal line of the fenestration. High ceilings distinguish the different swimming areas, which include a six-lane competition pool, a teaching pool, and a children’s pool. Large skylights bring in additional daylight to brighten up the water surfaces. The clear, restrained design is entirely focused on the facility’s function as a sports pool.

The design of Leipzig Sportbad am Rabet incorporates Passive House standards and thus supports the city’s sustainability goals.