Green-Roofed Municipal Pools Are an Enchanting Public Space in Povoação, Portugal

We were blown away by the splendor of green covering the roofs of the Municipal Pools of Povoação in Portugal. Designed by <a href="http://www.barbosa-guimaraes.com/" target="_blank">Barbosa and Guimaraes Arquitectos</a>, the public indoor pools are housed in a series of basalt rock volumes cut into the side of the hill on a site that was formerly used by the city for outdoor sports. Inside, the building is naturally lit by skylights that pierce holes through the green roof and appear like plugs across the surface.

The pools are located in the village of Povoação on the Archipelago of the Azores, on the southern edge of the island of San Miguel.

A slope behind the building protects it from the sea breezes.

Previously the city had cut into the slope to create a flat spot to build recreational fields and the new pools easily slid into the space.

The architects tried to create a fusion between the new buildings and the existing landscape.

Construction began on the project in 2007 and was completed in 2008.

The project includes a variety of swimming pools, training pools, locker rooms and lounge facilities.

Black basalt volumes, which correspond to various functional programs, run in line with the slope as if they were an extension of it.

A lush green roof covers the entire complex and is punctuated with angled skylights that pull in natural daylight onto the pools below.

At night the light from the pools shines out through the skylights.

The locker room facilities are stoic.

Black basalt continues into the interior space as well.

From inside the skylights are bright and light polka dots on the ceiling.

Gaps between the volumes also pull sunlight into the spaces and provide views to the outdoors.