Year after year, more efficient, better, more sustainable solutions in the field of “green” architecture are being developed. Within the framework of this year’s HuGBC event series, called “Green building for all”, Attila Huszár, our Lead Architect colleague presented the innovative green solutions of the Zalaegerszeg Sports Pool.
“The buildings are designed to be used. If a building is difficult or expensive to maintain, its usability will deteriorate over time. The aim of an architect is to create a built environment that can satisfy not only the occupants but also the operators, in a way that causes as little environmental impact as possible in the creation of the building. In my opinion, we can talk about a green building if, during the implementation, operation, possible demolition, extension, and renovation of a building, we always bear in mind its impacts on the environment. We are not talking about a green building process, but a green building, where green solutions are taken into account from the very beginning of architectural design. The design of a swimming pool is always a huge challenge in terms of energy use, as even seemingly small measures can make a huge difference to running costs. In the early stages of the design of the Zalaegerszeg Sports Pool, climate modeling colleagues also assisted with the design. I believe that this will pay off many times over for Zalaegerszeg during operation.” – said Attila Huszár, Chief BIM Specialist and Lead Architect of TSPC Group.
The swimming pool was designed with a number of green solutions. The building’s heating needs are reduced by the increased glass surface on the building facade, which also makes it more economical and helps to maintain the right temperature inside the building. Especially in the FINA standard 50m pool and the training pool areas, where it helps to achieve an air temperature of about 30-32 degrees C.
The water is heated by hot water from a well drilled to a depth of over 1000 meters, significantly reducing the pool’s energy consumption. The building is cooled and heated by an increased glass frontage and movable shutters. A built-in weather station indicates the weather conditions, and the shutters can be adjusted accordingly. They protect against heat, reducing cooling energy requirements.
The building is equipped with 120 solar panels with a total capacity of 50 kW: which is 5% of the simultaneous performance of the building.
The building has a 1,500 m2 green roof, which reduces the intensity of rain run-off, while of course providing thermal insulation. In a wellness area of the swimming pool, the designers have placed a 18m2 moss wall which creates a green environment for relaxation. The moss wall is maintenance-free thus facilitating the operation of the building.
In terms of lighting, to avoid unnecessary light pollution, the swimming pool has only been equipped with a low level of ambient lighting, so that the focus is on the training sessions taking place there. The designers also thought about reducing noise pollution. A special water intake was used to eliminate the loud splashing. Sound damping is provided by a suspended ceiling made of frosted acoustic panels.
Green solutions include special layouts to ensure the comfort of athletes and visitors. Community space will be available for young athletes on the grandstand level to ensure that the time between school and training is spent in a useful way and in a comfortable environment. Learning is supported by three smart benches and two smart totems – all available for every visitor.
Thanks to a wide range of tools and varied solutions, the result is a building that will continue to set an example for the future.