Amble Links Holiday Park, The Granary Indoor Pool and Leisure Complex

Client: Park Leisure 2000

Location: Amble, Northumberland

The new swimming pool building was to be located between the existing restaurant and a shop. These buildings were to be sensitively restored to form one interconnected complex. As a condition of the lease the council required the swimming pool to be available for use by the whole community. The leisure centre should have roof forms and materials appropriate to the locality. Additionally, the ground levels were to be reworked to make the new building fully accessible to all users.

Pinelog's architects responded to this challenge by producing a traditional design which involved the existing buildings being re-roofed and re-clad in local materials with the new swimming pool blending in with them. Constructed in timber frame the new building follows the same roof pitch as the exisiting restaurant, with a high vaulted roof supported by a ribbon of trusses which span the 20m swimming pool, learner pool and reception area. Special attention has been paid to the need to minimise energy consumption. High levels of insulation, a deep plan design and the ability of the timber frame to absorb heat in the day and radiate it back at night, have reduced the ongoing energy costs to maintain a comfortable temperature within the building.

Miles Dewhurst, Director of Park Leisure 2000 said: "We are delighted. The leisure centre is very popular and has been a huge success. The perceived value to existing caravan owners and their guests is tremendous and it is certainly encouraging sales to potential owners. Membership from the local community continues to increase and this will contribute to the financial returns".