Valkane Swimming Pool, Pula

The Valkane swimming pool project is situated on the site of a former quarry, along the seafront and within a dense pine forest in Pula. The concept arises from the contrasts inherent to the location—between rock and void, nature and human intervention. The building is designed so that one part cuts into the rock, forming interior spaces for recreation, while the other half, containing the pool’s service facilities, is added as a constructed volume. These two entities do not meet directly but are separated by a long corridor illuminated from above.

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By making use of the site’s natural elevation difference, the building connects the rocky upper level with the lower level of outdoor sports grounds by the sea, allowing it to integrate naturally into the landscape. The structural system is based on two fundamental principles: a clear, rational grid of reinforced concrete columns and beams, and a series of organically shaped spaces carved into the rock. The central structural element is a main beam, up to 3.5 meters high, that runs along the entire length of the building, gradually changing its role—from the primary load-bearing element of the pool hall to the support for the roof and the projection surface. The result is an architectural composition that both respects its natural context and establishes a new, contemporary spatial identity.