Swimming Pool, Hamburg
The Alsterschwimmhalle in Hamburg is not only a popular venue for sports and leisure activities, but also an architectural landmark of the Hanseatic city. Between 2020 and 2023, the listed building underwent extensive renovation and modernisation. The aim was to preserve the iconic roof structure – a double hyperbolic paraboloid – whilst meeting today’s standards for energy efficiency and sustainability. FOAMGLAS® T3+ and FOAMGLAS® T4+ insulation boards played a central role in this. With their high thermal insulation and moisture resistance, they help to support the preservation of the historic architecture.
The focus of the project was the striking roof structure in the form of a double hyperbolic paraboloid – an engineering masterpiece from the 1970s that rests on just three points. With a roof pitch of up to 37° and a concrete shell only 8 cm thick, the structure demanded the utmost precision in both planning and execution. Due to the delicate roof structure, conventional mechanical fastening of the roof insulation was out of the question. The search was therefore on for an insulation material that that would remain effective under demanding conditions: compressive strength, dimensional stability, impermeable, vapour-tight, and non-combustible – and all without the need for screws.
FOAMGLAS® T3+ and FOAMGLAS® T4+ were therefore selected. These were used not only on the roof surface, but also on the parapet and in specific areas beneath the swimming pool.
