Chatillon Architectes revives the historic municipal baths of Strasbourg
First designed by German town planner and architect Fritz Beblo in 1905, the Municipal baths in Strasbourg, France, have been reinvigorated to contemporary standards. The complete overhaul, led by Chatillon Architectsaccentuates the original finishes, from the moldings to the historic marble of the Roman baths, and has also included the construction of new aquatic and sports facilities by a Parisian company TNA Architects.
“It’s not a building that leaves you indifferent. When you come to visit, there is a very clear poetic relationship to space and light,” explains François Chatillon, founder of Chatillon. “It is a construction inspired by both antiquity and neo-regional. This balance is fragile and must be preserved.
Antonin Gilles, architect in charge of Chatillon, adds: “We also wanted to offer new features on the ground floor and on the floors of the wings of the building, highlighting the vestiges of the past, such as the demarcation of the old frame, which has been removed to allow the enlargement or connection of certain spaces.
A refreshed color palette adorns the two newly connected main pools, lit by meticulously installed LED ribbons to contextualize the height of the interiors. Old ventilation shafts lining the ceiling now support the elaborate lighting system and accentuate the tension between the sleek new light fixtures and the roughness of the preserved concrete.
An enclosed relaxation area on the first floor houses a hot drinks bar and a tea room. A jacuzzi, salt grotto and sauna have also been created in the former laundry room, while a former car park has been transformed into an outdoor stainless steel relaxation pool and sauna.
The vegetated garden level also offers a dedicated entrance to meet all accessibility needs, a new consideration designed in tandem with sustainability measures, such as thermal insulation that preserves water temperature and reduces energy consumption by 41%.
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