Forest pool
At the confluence of two streams, near Lidové sady, Liberec's elegant villa neighborhood, lies a spot with a deep bathing history. The water there is ice cold. Every Liberec local knows this beauty hidden by centuries-old spruces as Forest pool. A few years ago, we decided to lease it from the city and build a brand-new lido facility next to it. Now I stand on the dam, looking at the snow-white structure that frames the forest edge like lace while waiting for its first visitors, thinking to myself that our effort was well worth it.
Location:
Liberec, Lidové sady, Czech Republic
Client:
Statutory city of Liberec
Status:
Realization
Completion year:
2025
Built-up area:
320 m²
Budget:
10 mil
Authors:
Jan Vondrák, Jan Mach, Marie Vondráková
Design engineer:
Mjölking s.r.o.
Construction:
1ku1
When we acquired Forest pool under our management, we immediately started working out the details. We began with no money at all, and the only way to improve the lido was through volunteer work parties. So we grabbed drills and saws, and got down to business. From construction boards and slats, we knocked together makeshift furniture for the kiosk, which underwent a slight facelift. It got a coat of white paint, new equipment, and a sign reading "beer–soda" along with a big heart appeared on the roof, becoming the symbol of the site's transformation. We started working on a study and raising funds. A large portion of the budget came from the city's participatory budget, but a significant share also came from private donors.
Next came the building permit, which we obtained in May 2022. The initial funds went toward repairing the foundations and the wastewater treatment plant. A year later, work began on the superstructure, but unfortunately, we were already struggling with a lack of finances. Whatever we could, we handled ourselves or with the help of donations from private supporters. The entire situation led to negotiations with the city leadership regarding a one-time financial grant to help finish the ongoing construction and open a fully fledged facility in the spring of 2025. This succeeded, the lido's new facilities will now begin serving the public, who in Liberec do not have many options when it comes to going for a swim.
"We enjoy shaping the place where we live."
Mjölk architects
The new lido building is not a manifesto of spending public money. At minimal cost, we managed to build a public structure that would have been very difficult to create on such a low budget without civic initiative. Our contribution was not just physical labor, but also design and organizational work associated with such a build. A design was created that focused on being as easy to build as possible, phasable, and financially affordable.
The timber building follows the two elevation levels of the original foundation slab and serves as the core functional space of the lido. A hybrid timber system of CLT panels and light timber framing integrates storage, restrooms, a sauna with a relaxation room, and a bistro. The roof set on a turquoise steel structure serves as both an umbrella and a sunshade for the lido, protecting the building and visitors from bad weather. Showers, changing rooms, and lockers are located beneath the roof.
We founded our association Forest pool z. s. at the beginning of 2020 to apply for the long-term management of the site. Because we care about the city we live in, we tried to secure this beautiful yet neglected corner of Liberec in order to breathe back into it the lido soul it had missed for so long. Forest pool was not lacking much; a little was enough. After five years of management, we managed to complete the new facilities, and we are immensely happy about it. We breathed a new soul into Forest pool. The lido stands here not only thanks to participatory budgets and the city's support, but also thanks to you. Without private donors and partners, not only would a crucial part of the funding be missing, but also the feeling that our work makes sense. For the coming years, we have further development activities prepared so this precious corner of the city can keep developing. However, our mission does not end with building the lido. We keep going. And so we clean, mow, prune, draw, permit, supervise, and plan.
If you would like to help us, we would be delighted, get in touch!
