Kwun Tong Swimming Complex and Recreation Ground | Ronald Lu & Partners

The population of Kwun Tong district has grown rapidly in recent years. The existing district pool facilities were built over 40 years ago and struggled to cater for the growing demand posed by new residents. Indeed, with no indoor pools or competition-standard facilities, the old pool complex had become obsolete. The new Kwun Tong Swimming Pool Complex provides five swimming pools and a comprehensive range of additional leisure and supporting facilities, created and built with intelligent site design. Redevelopment of the existing complex was planned in two phases, with the new pool complex constructed in Phase One and additional outdoor leisure facilities in Phase Two. This phased approach maintained continuous pool access for the community throughout the construction period. As the largest swimming pool complex in Kwun Tong district, the complex provides comprehensive, all-weather indoor and outdoor swimming facilities for people in the community. It offers a wide range of swimming options, including a heated indoor main pool measuring 50m x 25m, a 25m x 30m heated indoor training pool, an outdoor secondary pool measuring 50m x 21m, two 25m x 12.5m outdoor teaching pools and a sunbathing area. The indoor main pool, featuring a spectator stand with around 1,500 seats, is suitable for swimming competitions. The innovative design of the Kwun Tong Swimming Pool Complex embraces numerous green elements. The main complex is formed of two interlocking volumes, gently distorted in both plan and elevation to reduce their visual mass. The elevations are largely glazed, with aluminium grills and panels, whilst the angled roof planes float above the pool buildings. Horizontal louvres minimize solar gain and glare to the pools, and enhance the lateral appearance of the building mass. The complex is accessed through a generous and welcoming hall, widely spaced to encourage natural ventilation through the complex. The open landscaped deck resembles a green carpet running around the building; this provides public access from the recreation ground to the grandstand. The building adopts various energy-efficient features and makes use of renewable energy technologies, such as a solar hot water system, a photovoltaic system and solar park lighting. For water conservation, a rainwater recycling system is used for landscape irrigation.