raum envelops renovated brittany pool and spa in black timber skin for thermal insulation

this material enhances the energy performance of the building, establishing, at the same time, a clear visual identity.

atelier raum edited by thomai tsimpou January 30, 2025 3 min

Raum renovates and expands public swimming pool in Brittany

French architecture studio Raum completes the renovation and extension of a public swimming pool and spa in Saint-Méen-Le-Grand, a small town in Brittany. Addressing the increasing demands of residents and young learners, the project introduces a sports pool and aqua-leisure area while restructuring the existing leisure pool.

The design team builds upon the existing cluster of compact wood and slate structures found on the site, unifying them under a thermally insulated black wooden skin. This material enhances the energy performance of the building, establishing, at the same time, a clear visual identity within the heterogeneous context. Inside, the new pool area opens generously to the landscape, with a solid volume appearing to float above the space.

raum envelops renovated brittany pool and spa in black timber skin for thermal insulation - 1 — all images © Charles Bouchaïb, unless stated otherwise

consistent materiality and color scheme tie elements together

Situated near a listed heritage building, the Nantes-based studio Raum balances restoration and expansion, ensuring environmental and architectural continuity. Informed by a resource-conscious approach, the renovation strategy preserves as much of the original superstructure as possible. Three key principles guide the intervention: adapting to the volumetric diversity of the existing buildings, reinforcing structural coherence through an insulated envelope, and enhancing spatial connections to the topography of the site.

The existing buildings were carefully studied to identify embedded volumetric qualities, ensuring the transformation remained coherent and sensitive to its surroundings. Interior spaces follow the same logic, with a unified material palette ensuring harmony between old and new elements. Exposed structural layers and a curated color scheme reveal the building’s evolution over time. This design approach extends to the exterior, where the varied outer volumes are unified through consistent materiality.

raum envelops renovated brittany pool and spa in black timber skin for thermal insulation - 2 — Raum completes the renovation and extension of a public swimming pool and spa in Brittany

raum envelops renovated brittany pool and spa in black timber skin for thermal insulation - 3 — the project introduces a sports pool and aqua-leisure area while restructuring the existing leisure pool

raum envelops renovated brittany pool and spa in black timber skin for thermal insulation - 4 — the new pool area opens generously to the landscape

raum-brittany-pool-spa-renovation-black-timber-skin-thermal-insulation-designboom-1800-02 — Raum builds upon the existing cluster of compact wood and slate structures found on the site

raum envelops renovated brittany pool and spa in black timber skin for thermal insulation - 5 — large windows allow swimmers enjoy the view

raum envelops renovated brittany pool and spa in black timber skin for thermal insulation - 6 — the renovation strategy preserves as much of the original superstructure as possible

raum-brittany-pool-spa-renovation-black-timber-skin-thermal-insulation-designboom-1800-03 — adapting to the volumetric diversity of the existing buildings

raum envelops renovated brittany pool and spa in black timber skin for thermal insulation - 7 — exposed structural layers reveal the building’s evolution

raum envelops renovated brittany pool and spa in black timber skin for thermal insulation - 8 — the new pool is located inside a solid volume that appears to float

steel sliding doors separate the space reinforcing structural coherence through the insulated envelope the dressing rooms are also part of the renovation rounded corners add to the fluidity of the space the existing buildings were carefully studied to identify embedded volumetric qualities enhancing spatial connections to the topography of the site ensuring the transformation remained coherent and sensitive to its surroundings retro details connect the old with the new the black wooden skin thermally insulates the space this material enhances the energy performance of the building establishing a clear visual identity image of the existing interior before the renovaiton ©Raum the existing structural elements are reinforced and remain explosed | image ©Raum

project info:

name: Renovation and extension of a public swimming pool and spa in Britanny
architect: Raum | @atelier.raum
location: Saint-Méen-Le-Grand, Brittany, France

photographer: Charles Bouchaïb | @charles_bouchaib

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.