Townsend + Associates Architects

PRC Embassy Pool Enclosure

PRC Embassy Pool Enclosure
© John Gollings

PRC Embassy Pool Enclosure

Townsend + Associates Architects

CERTIFIER/BUILDING SURVEYO
Bca Certifiers

HYDRAULIC ENGINEER
Northrop Engineers

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
Rudds Consulting Engineers

MANUFACTURERS
Network Architectural

BUILDING CONTRACTOR
Manteena Pty Ltd

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
Rudds Consulting Engineers

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
Northrop Engineers

PHOTOGRAPHS
John Gollings

AREA
562 M²

YEAR
2014

LOCATION
Yarralumla, Australia

CATEGORY
Sports Architecture, Swimming Pool

PRC Embassy Pool Enclosure
© John Gollings
PRC Embassy Pool Enclosure
© John Gollings

Text description provided by architect.

A highly expressive modern glass pavilion to reinvigorate a traditional embassy compound.
In designing this new building within the Chinese Embassy compound to enclose an existing 25 x 10m in‑ground swimming pool, Townsend + Associates Architects have provided a place of reflection and beauty; a building that allows its users to bathe in light as well as water.

“It’s all about the light and creating an energy efficient example of a building type that is notoriously energy hungry. To have an indoor swimming pool for Embassy families to bathe in light as they count out the laps or just splash about.” (Bruce Townsend, Architect).

The building’s apparent simplicity belies its technical complexity. Housed within a tightly constrained site, the new building is unmistakably a modern insertion into the traditionally themed architecture of the site.

PRC Embassy Pool Enclosure
© John Gollings
PRC Embassy Pool Enclosure
© John Gollings

Yet, through subtle reflection of colour and forms, the building acknowledges the traditional expressions of its neighbours.

The entire building envelope is highly insulated, double glazed and fully thermally broken. The double skinned Uform glazing incorporates a LowE coating to further improve thermal performance.

PRC Embassy Pool Enclosure
© John Gollings
PRC Embassy Pool Enclosure
© John Gollings

A new state-of-the-art ozone water treatment system requires very low chemical input for extremely high water quality and reduces the corrosive chlorine environment normally associated with indoor pools.

It is a glass pavilion that glows with light all year around flooded with sun in winter and deliciously shaded in summer.

PRC Embassy Pool Enclosure
© John Gollings
PRC Embassy Pool Enclosure
© John Gollings

Despite its refined appearance the building is highly functional and decorative through its expressed steel structure and simple palette of materials: glass, steel and timber.


PRC Embassy Pool Enclosure
Site Plan
PRC Embassy Pool Enclosure
Floor Plan


PRC Embassy Pool Enclosure
Longitudinal Section
PRC Embassy Pool Enclosure
Cross Section

Townsend + Associates Architects
T +61 2 62577033
Townsend + Associates Architects
212 Dryandra St, O'Connor ACT 2602, Australia