Roxburgh Pool

The Roxburgh Community Pool Punawai Ora "Safe Water" was in dire need of repair and maintenance. The pool had become so dilapidated that it was no longer economically viable to keep repairing and there was a risk that it would have to close permanently. Gary Altenburg, a friend who grew up in Roxburgh had a 50-year school reunion looming and saw the opportunity to pitch a design to the ex-school leavers and community hoping to stimulate a revitalisation of the pool. To maintain traction Dave Lang from Inovo produced a high-level budget and programme. This gave the committee a focus on how much funding was required and where they could obtain it from. They sourced grants from the Central Lakes Trust, Otago Community Trust, Lottery Grants Board and Central Otago District Council, along with many smaller sponsors that helped with the fundraising target which ultimately came in at $3million. The Teviot Valley-based Ida MacDonald Trust had stepped up and became the naming sponsor. Contact Energy also sponsored and funded the system using solar panels to power the heat pumps used to heat the water. The design focusses on an oversized large floating roof structure that folds and concertinas over the building mirroring the undulating landscape. The roof sides are screened with powder coated flat bars for ventilation and security. The building form wraps around the pool utilising as much of the site as possible. The building structure was constructed of concrete block. This would be cost effective and resilient. We shrouded the block with undulating perforated aluminium panels. The colouring of the building was influenced by the golden Central Otago environment. We wanted the result to be simple and sculptural, one that blends organically into its site. The swimming pool is next to bike trails and the Roxburgh Area School and overlooks the Clutha River. The result is an incredible asset that will benefit the Teviot Community for generations to come.