The design for swimming pool De Slag in Sportpark Hoornseveld answers to the ambition of the municipality of Zaanstad to create an accessible sports complex where talent development, a healthy lifestyle, social cohesion and sustainability are fully experienced and stimulated.

Social encounters are central to the design. De Slag invites to stay, move, meet and participate. Sunny conservatories around the entrance and the restaurant invite passers-by to come in for a drink and have a glimpse of the swimming pool. An inviting atmosphere is further created by the warm appearance of the wooden roof structure, which is already visible from the outside.

Besides enabling a place for social encounters, swimming pool De Slag also contributes to an active and healthy lifestyle. This healthy lifestyle is fully integrated in the design. The building consumes as little energy as possible, has natural ventilation where possible and is constructed with natural and reusable materials. The interior finishing and building structures are modular and demountable for easy adaptations in the future.

Inside is plenty of room for plants and there is even a greenhouse that allows for cultivating vegetables which can be used in the restaurant. By choosing to grow air purifying plants, the greenhouse can also function as the lungs of the building and as a thermal buffer zone in order to reduce loss of warmth in winter. Outside, generously applied greening on the roofs will improve the biodiversity, also nest boxes will be smartly placed for various birds and bats to be able to nest. With this combination of green roofs and nest boxes the building will contribute to a well-functioning ecosystem.

Sports complex De Slag will become an innovative swimming pool with modern facilities for both top athletes and recreational users. The building makes a healthy lifestyle visible throughout: it is not only a place for active sport but also for active living.