Since 2018, Akvo’s Spiralift technology has been used to power more than 20 movable pool floor projects across Germany. None of this would have been possible without our partner Bodan Schwimmbadbau, a former German ship builder (est. 1919) that has since expanded into stainless-steel swimming pool construction and movable pool floor integration.
Together, we have carried out a wide variety of impressive executions, all within a short period of time. Today, we want to spotlight just a few of our proudest achievements: movable pool floors that put Germany at the forefront of innovation, and ones that will certainly inspire other European cities in years to come.
MUNICH:
Originally built in 1972 to host the Summer Games, the Munich Olympia-Schwimmhalle is a public facility that recently underwent a three-year rehabilitation project. The centrepiece, its Olympic-sized swimming pool (50 m), was fitted with a 21 m (69 ft) by 17 m (56 ft) AKVO movable floor equipped with an anti-intrusion ramp. Depending on the event, the pool can achieve any depth between 2.5 m (8 ft) and 0.3m (1 ft), allowing the facility to accommodate everything from free swim to competitive training.
KEVELAER:
The Kardinal-von-Galen-Gymnasium public high school, located in the town of Kevelaer, had their 100 sq. m (1,080 sq. ft) stainless steel multipurpose pool installed in 2019. With a maximum water depth of 1.5 m (5 ft), its AKVO movable floor can automatically be lowered as needed, easily adapting to various uses including water sports, swimming lessons, and training geared towards young swimmers. Aside from serving students, this pool was also designed for aquatic therapy programs that benefit community members with disabilities.
FREIHAM:
Bathed in natural light on all sides, one of our Freiham project’s most distinctive features is Bodan’s innovative retractable staircase. When extended, the stairs provide a safe and easy way for swimmers to enter the pool. When collapsed, the stairs fit seamlessly into the wall, creating a ladder that can be used to descend into the pool without blocking the adjacent lane.
WUNSIEDEL:
This bright and beautiful pool is a lane swimmer’s dream. With the ability to go from a lap pool to shallower wading pool in just a few minutes, it’s a fabulous community space that can serve anyone from athletes to young children.
From free swim to professional training, public pools are required to meet incredibly diverse needs. Movable pool floors allow unparalleled flexibility, giving aquatic centres the ability to reconfigure all or part of their pool’s footprint within minutes.
By looking at the sheer volume of public movable pool floor projects executed in Germany in a relatively short timeframe, we can tell that Germany is fully on-board with the benefits of this incredible technology.
As a country that takes pride in the functionality of their public spaces, other nations with similar aspirations are bound to take note!
Projects Performed in Collaboration with Bodan
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