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TAWAU POOL
The Tawau Pool facility is designed by Chin Architect as the latest
addition to the Tawau Sports Complex located at the East Coast Division of
Sabah, Malaysia. Upon completion, it will join the ranks of aquatic facilities
in Asia that is developed and built with an Olympic-sized competition pool according
to FINA international specifications. Its main architectural feature will be
the pool’s steel and tensile membrane overlapping roofs that will cover the
entirety of the pool and spectator area, giving the facility a high-tech,
modern façade that represents aquatic movement, speed and performance. Designed
on the principles of green building and sustainable architecture, the pool
complex is orientated in the North-South direction to block out the sun and to
minimize glare, allowing competitive swimmers to focus on their training with
minimal distractions. Handicap-friendly access and low-energy usage, allowance
for future expansion and easy access to the pool’s mechanical pumps are among
the key points for Chin Architect’s approach to design, resulting in a
cost-effective solution with optimal building performance.
Apart from the
impressive 21m x 50m competition pool, the Tawau Pool complex will also have a
Kiddies pool for young children, ample parking space as well as administrative
office space, pool operation rooms and a surau for religious Muslim prayer.
We were inspired by the idea of a modern, high-tech swimming pool for
this East Coast town of Sabah; to be able to create such an outstanding piece
of architecture would surely be a boon and inspiration for local swimmers to
excel in their sport. One of the main considerations for an efficient swimming
pool complex is the maintenance factor. As part of our design approach, we did
comparative studies of designs of other local competitive swimming arenas and
after identifying the main issues and concerns relating to our client’s brief,
we then proposed a solution that offered not only a pleasing architectural
aesthetic and easy access for swimmers and visitors – but also a practical and
effective means for the client to maintain the upkeep of the swimming complex
for many years to come.
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