My initial thoughts for the pool design were very traditional and stuck in the realm of the visual. I decided it was much more to do with the feeling of the spaces, their audio qualities and the textures that guide you than whether it looks like a professional swimming arena.
The main areas I am trying to resolve are:
1. The pool ends - turning points. The visually impaired swimmer needs to be aware of the ends of the pool to turn or to reach for the finish. I want to create a bigger landmark at the end of the pool using architecture to signify and amplify this edge condition. Perhaps through natural lighting or perhaps through a textural sensation (e.g passing through an archway that has a mist of water that falls over the swimmer) and also through the changing of the reverberation of the space.
2. Lane division. Traditional red and white floating lane dividers are very hard and harsh if bumped into and do not provide a comfortable way of separating the pool water. I realise that they also help control the amount of waves and turbulence created by other swimmers so it is not as simple as just replacing them with a soft floating device as this may not work. I want to use the roof to express the lane divisions. I also want to use the roof architecture as the 5m backstroke turning markers.
Through these initial concept renders I have experimented with tapering both the roof and walls in at one end so that the Eastern end of the pool is both darker and smaller and through introducing light and increasing the size of the space, swimmers should be aware of their position in the pool hall. I have also introduced a viewing window from the tram line that passes by and a series of slit windows down the Southern facade that are set at precise intervals to help guide people along the pool edge.
This is far from complete, and I will continue to explore more ways I can use the architecture to help a visually impaired swimmers experience.
