17. Mai 2009 - Architekturarchiv Ungarn
At that time the capital had not yet any diving facility appropriate for international competitions. The swimming pool on Margaret-island had been appointed for the competition and in 2004 an architectural tender was invited for the expansion of that sports establishment.
Together with its architectural assets, the „Hajós Alfréd“ National Swimming Pool is one of the symbols of the sports in Hungary.
The expansion was aimed at creating a homogeneous architectural character that can be integrated into the buildings designed by Alfréd Hajós and the Csonka brothers in the first and second phase, which can meet the requirements of our era but also respect existing architectural assets.
The territory available did not facilitate the arrangement of the two pools (the 50 meter swimming pool and the diving one) ideally, in one line. Therefore, the pools were arranged on two different and parallel axes. Owing to restricted possibilities, this arrangement offered the only solution for retaining the homogeneity of the old and the new diving pool through the demolition of the then diving tower.
Discontinuing the tradition of building the two classic towers side by side, a new element was introduced through the wall-like arrangement. This wall-like body closes the old pool area on the one hand, guaranteeing an „arena“ atmosphere (a significant requisite of water polo matches), while, due to transparency, it establishes a visual link between the new and the old pool area on the other.
It separates and links. It separates the old from the new while it also links the two at the same time. In its structure and arrangement the whole structure grasps the last moment when the athlete, while preparing for the diving, is balancing with opening his/her arms. (architects' text)
