Seashell-Shaped Tung Chung Swimming Pool is Wrapped in an Energy Efficient Shell

Inspired by the organic form of a seashell, Hong Kong's Tung Chung Swimming Pool is an elegant sports facility housed within an energy-efficient shell. <a href="http://www.rlphk.com/">Ronald Lu and Partners</a> utilized an array of sustainable building strategies to create a public space that is specifically adapted to the surrounding environment. The iconic structure provides a spacious public arena with built-in climate regulating elements, revitalizing the staid typology of typical sports centers.

The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/anning-river-aquatic-resort-creates-its-own-unique-ecology/">public facility</a> is set along the coast and it offers a 50-meter heated indoor-pool and a 25-meter teaching pool.

Its aerodynamic shell consists of a double-layer PTFE membrane stretched over a lightweight long-span steel truss structure.

This facade serves as a green building envelope that allows natural daylight to illuminate the building.

A layer of insulating air trapped between the double-layer membrane helps to regulate the interior climate, and the roof also encourages natural ventilation.

Four-meter-high transparent roller shutters along the poolside can be fully opened in fair weather conditions.

When the shutters are closed throughout the winter the integrated ventilation ductworks in the roof trusses above the pool supply warm air to create a comfortable interior climate and to avoid condensation.