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The city of Apeldoorn wanted more than just a pool. Not a standard swimming pool, but a building with character in a prominent location overlooking the city center. That called for a design in which architecture, construction, and engineering came together from the very beginning. The result is Aquadoorn: a swimming pool where wooden trusses define the look and the engineering is neatly hidden from view. Project manager Gaatze Postma of Wind Design + Build explains how the construction team pulled it off.
Aquadoorn will replace the outdated De Sprenkelaar swimming pool and will be located on Vlijtseweg, along the route to the city center. “As far as we’re concerned, the municipality posed a unique challenge. They were truly looking for an iconic building in a special location, with a social function,” says Gaatze Postma, project manager at Wind Design + Build. The Drachten-based company is known as a turnkey contractor for community-oriented real estate and specializes in multifunctional centers, sports facilities, swimming pools, and schools. “We have an in-house architectural firm, which allows us to keep the design process close at hand. In addition, we always seek out other partners to form a project-specific team tailored to the project.”
Wind Design + Build and the architectural firm Venhoeven-CS, known for the Olympic swimming pool in Paris, joined forces for Aquadoorn. Together, they created a unique design. “Wood and trusses don’t just form the roof structure. They define the architecture of the entire project; the building exudes wood. The truss structure is a stunning visual element,” says Postma.
The complex will feature, among other things, a 50-meter pool, a pool for specific user groups, a wading pool, a recreation area with water slides, and a wellness center. What makes it unique is that the pool is built at ground level. “Swimming pools are usually built with a basement. With this pool, we took a different approach, partly due to urban planning requirements,” explains Postma. As a result, all systems are located in a single, easily accessible area. This required careful decision-making during the engineering phase. For example, ventilation air must be intelligently distributed throughout the building to ensure good air quality and a comfortable indoor climate. Through an intensive BIM process, all parameters were carefully coordinated.
That coordination presented a second major challenge: no installations on the roof. Postma: “That was a significant technical and architectural challenge, but that’s what we love. What you don’t see in this building is also what makes it special. We didn’t want any clutter inside the building. With refined detailing and by ensuring everything fits together neatly, we succeeded perfectly.” According to him, the value of the project lies in its cohesion. “The beauty of it is that sustainability, construction, safety, and manufacturability all come together here.”
Wind Design + Build is the contractor for the municipality and leads the construction team. Niehof Aannemersbedrijf is responsible for the structural work, while Lammerink Installatiegroep handles the mechanical and electrical systems. Postma doesn’t refer to them as subcontractors, but as partners. “We’re from the north and are known for being down-to-earth. Just act normal—that’s crazy enough. You see that same attitude at Niehof and Lammerink. That’s why we make such a great team.”
The team also collaborates with Lucrato, a work-training company. People who have been out of the workforce help out on the construction site and have thus found employment again. “In this way, we’re also doing our part for society,” said Postma.
