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IThe ground floor of the large pool. The wall tiling
has been repaired and partly replaced. The pool has been totally renewed
and the light fittings made to special order.
The small pool of
the second floor. The original wall finishes have been repaired using
old tiles kept in store and the pool has been renewed.
The large pool,
with the renovated rest cubicles on the first floor.
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Yrjönkatu Swimming Baths
The principle behind the renovation was to accept and respect the solutions and choices of the original design. The aim was to preserve the unique atmosphere of the magnificently tiled bath halls. The saunas and washing and other service facilities have always been functional, originally even Spartan. The areas to be preserved and renovated were determined in co-operation with the National Board of Antiquities.
An extensive study of the building’s history was commissioned, along with a study of the colours used. The original operating concept was retained - swimming in the nude, separately for men and women on different days in different parts of the building. This allows the spa facilities on the different floors to be placed entirely at the disposal of either men or women.
To retain the character of the swimming halls, a great variety of differently coloured and shaped wall tiles were made to special order, all the pool tiles being made according the original tiles. The irregular checkerboard patterns of the boundary between the turquoise and white tiling were accurately restored.
Mainly white standard tiles were used on the washing room and sauna walls, while the painted surfaces were given slightly paler shades than originally. The painted decorations of the ceilings and walls were restored and the few original decorations cleaned. Furniture was made to order from the original models and the few surviving original pieces of furniture were renovated. Changing-cubicle curtains, mats, bathrobes, and other textiles were designed on the basis of old photographs and textiles that had been preserved.
The suspended light fittings in the swimming halls were designed by adapting two early basic types. In other areas, all the original and many later light fittings were renovated.
More spa services were added and the gym was refitted. Two new steam saunas were built to augment the existing wood-fired saunas. A sauna for private parties was also constructed on the balcony of the small pool.
The waterproofing and solid concrete surface structures of the swimming pools were replaced. Load-bearing structures were partly reinforced and partly replaced. It was possible to use the original floor-duct system and vertical ducts in the columns and walls in the air-conditioning. The water treatment system was replaced entirely.
Most of the facade rendering was replaced and the surfaces were painted. The decorative rendering on the entrance courtyard walls was repaired. Traditional methods and materials were used throughout the renovation, with epoxy, plastic, and similar artificial materials being used as little as possible.
Arkkitehtitoimisto Antti Ilveskoski Ky
Antti ilveskoski, Taito Heino
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