The new Cambini Fossati swimming pool reinvigorates an entire district of Milan

Located in the Rottole district on the northeastern outskirts of Milan, the Cambini Fossati swimming pool has reopened its doors to the public after 28 years. Thanks to the project by TECO+partners, the obsolete seasonal pool was demolished to make way for a swim center that’s open all year round. Besides the pool, the center offers spaces for sport and socializing, making it a hub for people in a district that has been in need of a major transformation for many years.

The new structure adjoins an existing sports center, renovated a few years ago, that has two gyms, two tennis courts (including a clay court), and four Padel courts (opened in 2022). With the opening of the new swimming pool, the Cambini Fossati sports center has become a center of excellence for sports and a model for accessibility.

 

A swim center redeveloping a district

The newly constructed building that houses the swimming pool stands between outdoor sports facilities and the church of San Giovanni Crisostomo. It was designed as a launching pad for the redevelopment of this working-class, multi-cultural area that revolves around Via Padova and Via Palmanova. The project was intended to reestablish the relationship with the surrounding suburb, where the building density thins out and the fabric of Italy’s boom-time city begins to fray, with its first open green spaces dedicated to physical activity.

The large windows of the complex welcome in the suburban appearance of the surrounding area, both framing and complimenting it. And this is the distinguishing feature of the Cambini swimming pool, which takes up that architectural theme and develops it. This extends to the interiors that offer views of the surrounding garden and glimpses of the surrounding suburban buildings. In summer, the garden is available for sunbathing, so people can rest after a workout.

 

Green spaces for sport (or relaxation)

The new Cambini swim center is designed both for people who want to work out and people who simply want a break and a moment’s relaxation in a bright space surrounded by greenery. The entrance is on the west side of the building, where the pool area offers unique views of the surrounding gardens and glimpses of the Rottole district.

The foyer connects the different volumes of the complex to one other, while also creating visual relationships between the interiors and outside. The layout is based around the central swimming area, comprising a semi-Olympic pool measuring 25 x 12.50 meters (depth 1.20–1.75 meters), a teaching pool measuring 12.50 x 7.80 meters, and three smaller blocks housing a gym, a café, and changing rooms.

The interior space has a lamellar roof, while a full-length skylight, located at the end opposite the largest windows, fills the space with natural light, while creating an interplay of light and shade that seems to make the structure float at certain times of the day. This impression of lightness is accentuated by the light gray tones chosen for the interiors, which, together with the reflections off the water, give the entire space a relaxing, comfortable atmosphere.

 

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