HISTORY

The principal, the CBJW, is a non-profit organization that manages the charities of the Antwerp (and Belgian) Jewish community. The project is located in what used to be the “Astridbad” swimming pool and is situated in Nervierstraat, a central location for the Jewish community in Antwerp. It is part of a larger project aimed at renovating all the real estate belonging to this N.P.O.

The existing swimming pool was used as a starting point. This building from the 1930s is characterized by a very specific architecture and is of great sentimental value to the generations of people who learned to swim in this very location.

However, the basic structure offered few possibilities for renovation, unless as a new swimming pool. Moreover, the front of the building and the floors were in a very bad state.

Under the new concept, the “large pool” with its large roof span, which was the most characteristic and typical space, was turned into an inner garden, a central space around which the service flats would be built. The garden also functions as a link with the gardens in Lange Leemstraat, contributing abundant amounts of air, light and greenery. 

MAIN POINTS

The front section of the building was completely demolished and rebuilt because the physical construction and spatial situation simply did not allow for another alternative.
In order to limit the transport of construction waste as much as possible, it was stored in the existing pools where possible.
There are 14 parking spaces for cars in the cellar. At ground floor level there is a passage to the ‘large pool’ and all the services for the apartments (bathroom, administration, doctors, concierge, day rooms, etc.). There are flats on both floors.
The walls of the small pool were used as a foundation for new apartments to be built. The new flats are distributed along the first floor. The living space and service centre, which gives out onto the inner courtyard are in the small filled in pool.
The structure of the large pool, the changing cubicles and the dome were renovated. Around the large pool the assisted living units were integrated within the existing structure. The large pool was filled in and became a garden with a pond in an inner courtyard, thus referring to the pool’s former function. Of the dome only the structure was maintained.
The wall on the side of Lange Leemstraat (South-West) was demolished and replaced with a garden wall, allowing for more sunlight and opening up a nice view on the high trees that are planted on this side. In the design of the flats we combined the concept of a flat with that of a studio; all flats have a separate bathroom and a small kitchenette; the bedroom is separated from the living room with a curtain. All the flats are connected by a corridor that runs around the garden in the former pool.