"Centralbadet is about more than pools and courts; it’s about everyday experiences that bring people together.”
After Henning Larsen won an anonymous competition organized by the City of Gothenburg, the international architecture studio partnered with Swedish studio Winell & Jern Architects, engineering firm Ramboll and sports science lecturer John Dohlsten to create the plans for a new public swimming and sports center for Sweden’s second-largest city.
Expected to open in 2031, this 51,850-square-meter project will house Olympic-standard swimming pools, family and learning pools, sports halls, outdoor facilities and more. A gridded timber facade and large windows will bring light to the area, both inside and out. The distinctive timber frame will also appear in interior partitions and ceiling elements where possible.
What’s more, Henning Larsen says the building represents a long-term investment in Gothenburg’s future, and that it will “support public health, sport and community activity for people of all ages.”
“We have designed the space to ensure every visit prioritizes social and health benefits, creating a democratic space where everyone can feel welcome,” says Martin Stenberg Ringnér, the design director at Henning Larsen. “From quiet nooks to lively terraces, from playful learning pools to sunlit rooftops, every visit will feel welcoming and connected to the rhythms of the city.”
Centralbadet — which literally translates to “The Central Bath” in Swedish — will be a replacement of Gothenburg’s historic Valhallabadet, the previous swimming facility that occupied the site since the 1950s. While this fact drew some concern from locals who feared the demolition of such a long-standing public facility would be a “waste of history,” the architects have reassured the public that Valhallabadet will have an impact on the new construction.
“The design draws inspiration from Gothenburg’s beloved Valhallabadet, continuing the city’s legacy of public swimming,” Henning Larsen says. “It honors this legacy through art, landscape and urban connections — from the landscaped Valhallagade to pathways echoing Nils Wendel’s iconic mosaic walls,” referring to the well-known design inside the 1956 swimming hall.
Beyond the swimming pools, Centralbadet will provide saunas, a cafe and restaurant, “flexible gathering areas,” and offices for 200 municipality employees. The project ensures accessibility for all, and is sure to make a bright statement on the city for decades to come.
