3XN Architects wins competition to design Swedish aquatic center

A new aquatic center on Tinnerbäck Lake in Linköping, Sweden, will take its form from the motion of waves washing ashore. 3XN is the architect for the project after its Vågen proposal won a competition against other entrants such as Zaha Hadid Architects and Henning Larsen Architects.

Vågen, which unsurprisingly means The Wave, will connect the urban fabric to the water in both form and function, according to ArchDaily. Curving curtain walls undulate along the lakefront to achieve the desired wave effect and, as the landscape rises, the building masses step up naturally to meet the city.

A plaza will provide access into the building as well as to several new restaurants. A double height lobby will welcome visitors and create an easily navigable space to access each of the building’s functions and its four different pool areas. A wooden screen, selected for its strength to weight ratio and environmental qualities, will cover the façade of the building and pass over large panoramic windows that open to views of the neighboring lake. 

Construction is expected to begin in September 2017 and complete in 2021 for a total cost of $85 million.

Rendering courtesy of 3XN Architects.

Rendering courtesy of 3XN Architects.

Rendering courtesy of 3XN Architects.