Here to stay: Public swimming pools continue to be a refuge

It’s no secret that we Israelis are avid fans of outdoor attractions in general and water sources in particular—natural in a sunny and warm country that enjoys high temperatures for at least 9 months of the year. As a result, country club facilities and urban swimming pools have been and continue to be among the most attractive activities for people of all ages, especially in recent years as they have become more invested in and accessible than ever.

Architect Meidad Gendler is a partner at V5 Architects, specializing in the design of public buildings and, in particular, complex public sports and leisure projects throughout the country. He is also the official Israeli representative of the Union of Architects and Builders of Israel to UIA in the Sport & Leisure Work Programme group and a member of the international IAKS organization. In an interview, he clarifies, “Today’s pools serve not only as a place to swim but as a genuine community center that combines a variety of sports activities with leisure and relaxation attractions. With thoughtful planning, they provide the general public with an invested and accessible facility close to residential areas, which is why we see more and more audiences using them. At the same time, we are also witnessing an awakening and realization from the authorities about the importance of country club facilities and neighborhood sports facilities, as evidenced by country club facilities currently in planning stages in places like Beersheba, Yavne, Mevaseret Zion, Hod Hasharon, and other municipalities.”

What are the main planning features of these facilities?

“The programs of most of them are quite similar, and the planning approach is the same. The goal is one: to create an effective facility for residents that integrates a range of sports, leisure, and recreational activities—excluding ball sports that consume a lot of space.”

It sounds like we are on the right track, yet a review we conducted shows that the maintenance condition of many of the older country clubs needs improvement.

“That’s true; we definitely see an improvement in the trend, but we need to understand that many country club facilities in Israel still suffer from a lack of budget, and a significant number of authorities struggle to maintain them over time. There is a solution: it involves partnering with private sector developers and moving to a BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) model, in which the developer receives a concession from the local authority to finance, design, build, and operate the facilities for a set period (usually about 25 years), which includes the construction period, after which the facility returns to the authority.”

Gendler provides a glimpse into some of the new facilities that reflect the new planning trend: “The water park in Modi'in, designed by our firm and invested with over NIS 60M, is one of the most prominent new leisure and sports complexes in Israel, spanning about 25 acres. The complex includes a central building of approximately 3,000 square meters and features a sports center and a water amusement park, water slides, an indoor and heated semi-Olympic pool, a toddler pool, a play pool, a gym, and studio rooms. The highlight is a unique surfing facility where one can experience real surfing on a board,” says Gendler, adding that, “The unique project manages to combine classic activities with leisure and recreational activities, in the play pools or the sliding and surfing facilities. We have effectively created a ‘new product’—a sports, leisure, and recreation center that combines a variety of attractive activities for a broad range of audiences.”

Another example is the Holmes Place club in Kfar Saba, also designed by V5 Architects: “The Family Club is a sports club from the Holmes Place network that includes outdoor swimming pools and toddlers' pools, lawns, and a building of approximately 3,700 square meters, which includes a gym of 950 square meters, an indoor swimming pool, studio rooms and activity areas, a children’s activity room, a spa, changing rooms, a cafeteria, a store, and administrative and service rooms,” explains Gendler. “This is the first family sports center built by Holmes Place in its new format, in collaboration with the Tzemach Hammerman company and according to Holmes Place’s detailed program.”

“This is a center that offers its visitors many added values and includes activity spaces for the whole family. At its center, we designed a main lobby and a café that serve as a public square and a central meeting point leading visitors to the various functions. The seating areas and outdoor pools face north and east towards the citrus groves, which provide the development areas of the sports center with a calming pastoral atmosphere.”

What can we expect in the future?

“There are indeed many good examples of facilities in planning and development stages, one of which is located in Beersheba where a sports and recreation center is planned, with construction expected to be completed in about two years,” says Gendler. “The project is carried out by the Beersheba Economic Company and includes a new sports center near the Turner Municipal Sports Complex in the northern part of the city, where the municipal stadium, the shell hall, and football training fields are already open to the public. The planned center will span about 20 acres and include a central building of approximately 5,000 square meters with an indoor pool, gym, five studio rooms, a café, changing rooms, administrative rooms, and service areas. The development areas will include a seasonal leisure pool, a toddler pool, a water slide facility, and lawns and seating areas. The building itself will be clad in concrete-like and corten steel panels, giving it a modern look as a contrast to the surrounding desert landscape.”