Halle says Tschüss to the city pool: renovation for 27 million euros!

Halle says Tschüss to the city pool: renovation for 27 million euros!

Halle, Deutschland - On Friday, the Halleers celebrated an emotional “abbading” in the city pool, which was open to swimming enthusiasts from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. This swimming opportunity marked the end of an era, because after draining the water, the bathroom is closed until full renovation. According to MDR , the city of Halle invests more than 27 million euros in the renovation work to revitalize the only surviving Art Nouveau in Saxony-Anhalt.

The Stadtbad Halle, which opened over 110 years ago, is one of the largest and most important historical baths in Germany. The bathroom was planned by city building councilor Wilhelm Jost, and at its ceremonial opening in February 1916 it surprised with two separate swimming pools for men and women and an Irish-Roman steam bath. Such institutions were not a matter of course at the time, since baths were part of the basic equipment of an apartment, such as Baden-in-halle.de .

The long history of the city pool

Over the decades, the city pool experienced numerous changes. Kneipp’s applications were introduced in the 1930s, while the first extensive renovation measures began in the 1950s, which unfortunately often took place regardless of the historical substance. From 1972, various structural elements, including the rabitz ceiling in the men's hall, were demolished or redesigned, which further changed the history of the bath. The complete closure of the shower area took place in 1988 due to dilapidation, informed Baden-in-halle.de .

The past few years have also been shaped by intensive renovation work. After the Frauenhalle was closed in 2012 due to static defects, it was reopened in 2014 after extensive work. Particularly noteworthy are the renovation projects on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the city pool in 2016/2017, in which the outer facets of the bath were modernized. These projects are supported by funding from Bäder Halle GmbH.

architectural and cultural importance

The importance of the city pool goes far beyond the purely functional. A dissertation by Yasmin Renges at the University of Cologne addresses the technological and cultural importance of city pools during the Golden Twenties. This era represented the beginning of the sports-oriented bathing building and set new standards in bathing culture, as explained on kups.uB.uni-koeln.de . The architecture of these baths reflects the social, sporting and hygienic developments of the time.

Whether the repeated use of the Halleers leads to the preservation of this historical monument leads to the desired success. One thing is certain: the history of the Halle Stadtbad is firmly rooted in the city's identity, and the upcoming renovation work is an important step into the future.