“Holy Water”: Church Becomes a Public Swimming Pool

(eap) In Heerlen, a city in the south of the Netherlands, a vacant church building is being converted into a public swimming pool. The project, entitled “Holy Water”, was designed by the architectural firms MVRDV and Zecc Architecten, who jointly won the competition for the conversion of the St. Francis of Assisi Church.

The 1,270 square meter facility is due to be completed at the end of 2027 and combines renovation in line with the preservation order with contemporary functionality. The church, which is over 100 years old, will take on a new social significance because of the renovation. The project is part of a larger urban development concept that includes a Roman museum and the renovation of the Royal-Rivoli cinema.

© MVRDV

At the heart of the design is a height-adjustable swimming pool floor in the former nave, which enables flexible uses. When fully raised, the pool becomes a flat surface – suitable for cultural or social events. If only a thin layer of water is applied, a reflection of the interior is created, giving the impression of “walking on water”.

An illuminated, circular canopy will mark the main entrance and bridge the gap between past and present in terms of design. Inside, the side aisles lead to changing rooms and a catering facility, separated from the air-conditioned swimming area by glass walls. Historical elements such as the pews and the pulpit are integrated into the new spatial concept: The pews will serve as seating or bar tables, while the pulpit will be converted into a lifeguard post.

© MVRDV

The new mosaic floor is being designed in collaboration with local artists and references the church’s color scheme and materials as well as Heerlen’s street art. The lighting is also intended to be reminiscent of historic church lamps, with the light also serving as floating lane markers.

“The vacancy rate of churches is increasing, so we need to come up with new, creative ideas for what we can do with these buildings”, says Winy Maas, founding partner of MVRDV. “Why not give these churches a social function again, as they used to have? A public swimming pool is ideally suited for this. Imagine: swimming the backstroke with a view of a church vault and stained-glass windows. By covering the entire pool area with a small layer of water, you can also create a beautiful visual effect, allowing the church to return to its original form and appear even larger and more impressive through the reflection.”

The project is being commissioned by the city of Heerlen. In addition to MVRDV and Zecc Architecten, IMd Raadgevende Ingenieurs, Nelissen Ingenieursbureau and the construction economics consultancy SkaaL are also involved. ■