Zwembad, Ceintuurbaan 1

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, in Dutch. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

Description

INTRODUCTION

OUTDOOR SWIMMING AND BATHING FACILITY, built in 1933-1934 on behalf of the municipality of Zwolle according to a design by constructor-architect Jan Gerko Wiebenga (1886-1974), director of the municipal Technical Service from 1931 to 1934. The execution of the work is credited to contractor J. Spanhaak of Zwolle. Symmetrically arranged outdoor swimming pool which, despite alterations that have taken place over time, still convincingly reflects the functional, practical and clear principles of the Nieuwe Bouwen and J.G. Wiebenga's views on construction and architectural design. Characteristics that are clearly expressed in the taut and functionalist layout of the grounds, the horizontal and vertical elements that determine the appearance of the buildings, the slender constructions and the use of modern materials such as concrete, steel and glass. The pool is the only still relatively intact outdoor swimming pool in the formal language of the Nieuwe Bouwen in the Netherlands, which makes it rare within that category. In summary, it can be stated that the Zwolle Outdoor Swimming Pool is of great significance both architecturally and culturally through its design, architectural execution, technical realisation and location, while there is also rarity value at national level.

DESCRIPTION

Layout and principal characteristics. The Outdoor Swimming Pool is situated on a triangular plot of land bounded by the busy Ceintuurbaan, Brederodestraat and Da Costastraat. The adjacent characteristic housing for middle-class residents from the nineteen thirties, which forms part of the Wipstrik district, was realised some time after the completion of the swimming pool.

The layout of the pool is symmetrical as a result of the strict separation of the sexes still prescribed in the nineteen thirties. The main entrance is located on the Ceintuurbaan and consists of turnstiles and an entrance building with ticket offices and (formerly) issue of season-ticket bathing badges. On either side of the entrance are still some rows of the originally parallel to the Ceintuurbaan but now perpendicular to it changing cubicles and lockers, as well as the perpendicular to the Ceintuurbaan projected general changing rooms with coat racks and benches. On the Ceintuurbaan side the grounds are bounded by entrance gates on either side of the entrance building which are connected by a blank wall with the rectangular changing rooms.

Adjacent to the foot-basins leading to the shallow and deep pools are two toddler pools, each 10 x 20 m. with a maximum water depth of 0.40 m. The platforms of the shallow and deep pools are only accessible via disinfecting foot-basins and showers (and formerly also turnstiles). This also applied to the formerly sex-segregated beaches (each 40 x 23 m.) with clear white dune sand, Scheveningen parasols and deck chairs (the beaches have since been replaced by grassy areas for lying down).

Parallel to the former beach are two shallow training pools each 12 x 40 metres with a depth of 0.75 to 1.30 m. accessible via stairs with railings. The deep Olympic (competition) pool with low lookout post with flagmast parallel to these measures 100 x 20 m; the depth varies from 1.50 to 2.20 m. and 3.20 m. at the diving boards. The pool could formerly be shortened to a 50 m. pool by means of a removable wall with walkway (now permanent). At each end of the deep pool there were originally two 1 m. diving boards, two 3 m. diving towers and one 5 m. diving tower, all with steel stairs, railings, balustrades and flagmast. Of these, one high and two lower diving towers and one diving board are still preserved at one end. Behind the pool is the since shortened grandstand with (newer) lookout post for the bath master (originally 400 seats each 0.60 m. wide). In the left and right corners of the grounds are toilet blocks for bathers and non-bathers. The small pump building of the preheating and de-ironing basin behind the grandstand has been (after loss of function) converted into a toilet block. The grounds, with significant tree plantings (including some important species) are enclosed by stone walls and steel fencing.

Constructional and material technical features. For the construction of the pools use was made of (blue plastered) reinforced concrete, with a system of pressure valves in the floor, which was intended to prevent cracking resulting from varying ground pressure. Reinforced concrete constructions were also used for the diving towers and diving boards - although Wiebenga's slender design had to be reinforced during construction on the orders of the Zwolle municipal authorities for safety reasons (incidentally unnecessary). The original changing cubicles, lockers and shower cubicles are composed of 5 cm. thick concrete panels and have thin steel doors. The other buildings are executed in fair-faced brickwork and have concrete floors, slightly sloping wooden roofs and steel windows and doors. In a number of cases, such as in the group rooms and toilet buildings, wooden doors are employed. All fencing, turnstiles and handrails are composed of gas pipe with corresponding coupling pieces. The ironwork was in all probability treated with aluminium-coloured paint.

Special attention is warranted by the two-part single-storey entrance building which is constructed of yellow brick and is covered by slender, gently sloping overhanging roofs which offset each other. The front section has a pointed construction with continuous high windows in steel frames; behind the ticket office section the masonry steps back. The original austere interior of Wiebenga's hand consisting of wooden cupboards and drawers is still present, including the presumably also Wiebenga-designed accompanying chairs. The section adjoining the undercroft (with sluice basins) has the same design, but is based on a rectangular plan and has a continuous window on one side.

Alterations compared to the original layout.

The principal alterations compared to the 1934 situation concern:
* replacement of most of the originally parallel to the Ceintuurbaan located changing cubicles and lockers (some rows of changing cubicles are preserved on either side of the entrance building as well as adjoining the changing buildings)
* replacement of showers and toilets parallel to the changing cubicles by an open service building (nineteen sixties) for hanging clothes;
* replacement of the preheating and de-ironing basin at the back of the grounds by a play area (this falls outside the protection, but is important for the current layout and use of the grounds) and conversion of the small pump building into a toilet block;
* replacement of the pump building for the pools by a larger one in the right corner of the grounds (the current building falls outside the protection);
* demolition of three of the four diving boards and three of the six diving towers of the competition pool in favour of more starting blocks;
* shortening of the grandstand.

The aforementioned alterations, however, do not substantially detract from the original layout and the monumental qualities of the Outdoor Swimming Pool as a whole. The original strict symmetry can still be clearly read from the complex, while the layout of the grounds shaded by valuable greenery, the entrance section and the pools have remained largely unaltered. The whole still testifies to J.G. Wiebenga's great expertise in the field of concrete construction and still unmistakably expresses his personal interpretation of the principles and formal language of the Nieuwe Bouwen.

Protected components belonging to the Outdoor Swimming Pool.
The Outdoor Swimming Pool comprises (still) the following original components, all of which are located on the grounds belonging to the bathing facility:

- entrance with ticket office building and interior fittings including former season-ticket bathing goods building with sluice basins, benches and clock;

- changing cubicles (some rows of which are still preserved);

- two changing rooms (with originally drying rooms for bathing goods);

- two toilet blocks;

- foot-basins accessible via small steps with showers leading to the pools;

- two toddler pools (10 x 20 metres);

- two shallow training pools (12 x 40 metres), separated by 10 cm thick concrete walls with walkways;

- deep competition pool (100 x 20 metres), originally subdivisible into two smaller pools (for men and women respectively) by a removable (now permanent) screen;

- one of the originally four concrete diving boards and three of the originally six diving towers;

- lookout post with flagmast for the bath master on the division of the competition pool and the shallow training pools;

- grandstand of prefabricated concrete blocks each 60 cm. wide (originally for 400 spectators but since shortened), with newer lookout post

- WCs and urinals for bathers and non-bathers (two blocks left and right rear on the grounds;

- the former small pump building of the preheating basin converted into a toilet block;

- lying and play areas (located between and alongside the pools);

- wall and fencing;

- two entrances for spectators on Brederodestraat and Da Costastraat respectively;

- two rows of single and two rows of double steel bicycle clamps on the grounds in front of the entrance building on the Ceintuurbaan.

VALUATION

The Outdoor Swimming and Bathing Facility of 1933-1934 designed by Jan Gerko Wiebenga is of general architectural and cultural-historical significance for several reasons:
* first, as a convincing representative of the Nieuwe Bouwen: the layout is clear and functional and construction, material use and finish are progressive and modern for the time of its creation;
* second as the best-preserved representative in the category of open-air swimming pools realised according to the principles of the Nieuwe Bouwen;
* third as a characteristic design within the oeuvre of J.G. Wiebenga: in this work Wiebenga's meanwhile generally recognised strong points are expressed; his very personal vision of construction and material use and the often spare aesthetic and architectural translation of this have in Zwolle actually only convincingly taken shape in this work;
* fourth as one of the few relatively well-preserved designs by J.G. Wiebenga in and outside Zwolle;
* fifth as still a clear exponent of the formerly strict views concerning sex-segregated (sun)bathing in public, which gives it considerable cultural-historical value (since the strictly symmetrical layout in the pool has been maintained to the present day);
* sixth as urban planning closure of and important green element for the Wipstrik district.