Pool and Recreation Centre

Sari, Iran

The recreation centre occupies a 5,000-square-metre site on the shores of the Caspian Sea. It does not attempt to compete with the natural environment but instead forms a white and neutral volume 'reminiscent of a shell', with transparent spaces that defer to the presence of the sea. The upper floor contains a pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, gym and coffee shop; the lower floor has mechanical rooms, parking and storage. Materials were chosen for their lightness and resistance to humidity and sunlight. The structure is steel, though columns near wet zones are covered with concrete and zinc plate.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture