Imagine stepping back in time to 1908. Stadtbad Steglitz opened as Prussia’s most modern town pool. Today, it stands as a cultural monument. Its doors closed in 2002.
The early 20th century saw Steglitz grow rapidly. The local government wanted a grand public bath. It would offer swimming and bathing to all residents. Many homes lacked bathtubs or showers. Architects Richard Blunck and Ferdinand Münzenberger designed a unique structure. It combined a church interior with Roman thermal bath elements. The styles were Historismus and Jugendstil.
First, the Roman-Russian steam bath opened in 1906. Then, in 1908, the swimming and bathing area was completed. On its opening day, July 8, it was advertised as Prussia’s most modern and largest healing and bathing department.
Stadtbad Steglitz was built like a basilica. During World War I, bathing stopped. The rooms became a food depot.
From 1928 to 1931, the district administration added a four-story building. Fritz Freymüller designed it. It housed the bath administration, a barber, and apartments. A second swimming hall for women was planned but never built.
During World War II, Stadtbad Steglitz remained open until winter 1940. Coal shortages forced its closure. War and vandalism caused damage. Repairs began in 1949. The Stadtbad Steglitz reopened.
Major renovations occurred from 1971 to 1979. The hall’s vault above the pool was restored in 1988.
The swimming hall complex gained landmark status in 1982.
In 2002, the district could no longer afford the upkeep. The building went to BIM. In 2004, it was sold for one euro to a sports teacher. She had to renovate it and reopen it as a swimming pool by 2015.
The owner opened a café and installed seating in the empty pool. Former changing rooms became small exhibition spaces. In 2008, they displayed the Stadtbad Steglitz’s 100-year history. The barefoot areas served as a stage. Metal barriers protected visitors. Readings, theater, and opera performances took place. Flea markets and tile sponsorships raised some money. But it wasn’t enough to complete the renovation.
In 2016, the swimming hall complex returned to the city of Berlin. Film shoots and photo shoots happened sometimes. But mostly, the Stadtbad Steglitz stood empty.
In 2017 and 2018, students from Beuth Hochschule für Technik Berlin studied the building. They created usage proposals. One idea was to keep the bath operational. Another was to remove the bath.
In mid-October 2020, BIM sought a new operator with an acceptable concept. A children’s and youth swimming area was required.
Today, Stadtbad Steglitz is a well-preserved lost place. It is hard to access and relatively unknown.
The pool is 21 meters long and nine meters wide. A non-swimmer area is separated. The swimmer and diving area is 2.80 meters deep and rounded. Metal ladders lead into the water. A metal grid protects against falls.
Steel-concrete pillars line each side of the pool. Open changing cabins stand behind the pillars. White tiles cover the outside for easy cleaning.
A semicircular apse with plaster pillars forms one end of the hall. Round windows fill the spaces. A vaulted ceiling tops the pool.
The main entrance features the inscription “Stadtbad”. A relief of a splashing Berlin bear sits above.
Balustrades of ornamented cast iron adorn the upper level. Five horizontal bars run parallel. Sea creatures decorate the railings.
Small turquoise tiles cover the floors and walls of the pool. The same color graces the balustrades and stair railings.
The sauna had a cooling basin surrounded by granite pillars. Copper seahorses and scallops decorate the capitals. A mosaic kraken adorns a corner. A large mosaic of a saint covers a wall. Beige and green glass tiles decorate the walls.
The first floor held separate tubs for men and women, massage benches, and therapy cabins. Later, a ballet hall and fitness center were added.
In the basement, you could find the water treatment and heating systems.
The renovation needs are estimated at 550,000 euros. A concept procedure will follow. The chosen investor will sign a management contract.