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Indoor Swimming Pool Fechenheim
Konstanzer Strasse 16, Frankfurt
1928
The Indoor Swimming Pool Fechenheim was built in 1928 by the architect and university lecturer Martin Elsaesser, who designed this building for the workers in Fechenheim. It was intended to make the planned incorporation into the city of Frankfurt more tempting to the then independent village. The white plastered cubic building features a base clad with dark clinker and is structured by bands of windows and dark clinker areas. At the time of its construction this indoor pool was a revolutionary social innovation, and was then considered to be one of the most modern swimming pools in Europe. With this building, a number of significant innovations were introduced into the pool architecture. For example the bathing area was no longer screened from the outside as it was common up to then, but was designed as a combination of light and air bath with views and access to the outside. Towards the south side the swimming pool is glazed and features sliding doors. At that time the separation of swimming and changing area was also an innovation, since they had formed a spatial unit in older buildings. Martin Elsaesser had designed a number of swimming pools, but only the one in Fechenheim was realized. Since 2003, the building is accessible only to club members. The no longer seasonable bathtubs had been abolished and replaced by a contemporary spa. In addition, sauna and steam rooms were added. A minimal impact on the original spatial appearance was sought, so that these additions were realized as free-standing boxes within the rooms.