Rotterdam, The Netherlands – Sports complex Aquapelle is the new meeting place for sports and exercise in Capelle aan den Ijssel, the Netherlands. The building houses two swimming pools, a large sports hall and a canteen. MoederscheimMoonen Architects and Wehrung Architecten led the design of the building which opened its doors in 2020.

The campus-like building is located near the center of the city and is a place where many different groups come together. School sports and other sports associations can practice at the same time thanks to the partition walls in the sports hall. The pools are used by swimming clubs, where the young and the elderly can take a variety of lessons. The 25-metre competition pool is multifunctional thanks to the movable floor, atmospheric lighting and an extensive sound system. The target group pool has warmer water and a pliable bottom, so that it can be used as an instruction- and therapy pool

In the design, the bottom of the basin has been raised to ground level, so that the level of the pool water is on the first floor. The canteen is centrally located on this floor, between the sports hall and the swimming pools. The vibrant heart of the building contains a lot of glass for visual continuity between the sports floor and both swimming pools. The interior has a fresh and sustainable appearance due to the use of wood, which is reflected in both the sports hall and the swimming halls.

The plinth of the building is embedded into a green slope. The entrance is located at the corner of the building with a large concrete staircase going up to the first floor. The inviting canopy construction at this entrance welcomes visitors from afar. The facade is designed with natural-looking and robust cladding.

Various sustainable techniques have been used to generate and recover energy. For example, an installation concept has been developed which operates completely with electricity, so that no CO2 is emitted. Heat recovery is also used for the (swimming pool) water and the air. The cooling load is reduced by cleverly positioned transparent facade surfaces and providing sun protection. In addition, almost 1000 PV panels have been placed on the roof to generate energy. This energy mainly goes to heating the swimming pool since the rest of the building is substantially energy efficient thanks to the LED lighting with motion detection. Together with the chosen materials, a sustainable building has been created.