Ever wondered how Berliners escaped the summer heat before air conditioning? The Sommerbad Am Insulaner offers a refreshing glimpse into that past. This isn’t just a swimming pool. It is a place steeped in history and community spirit.
The Sommerbad Am Insulaner is located on Munsterdamm. Many know it by its old name Südend-Bad. In the 1920s, it was a Licht- und Luftbad meaning light and air bath without water.
Originally, the idea was simple. City dwellers could escape their crowded homes and enjoy fresh air and sunshine. The Verein für Gesundheitspflege und Naturheilkunde, the association for health care and natural medicine, built it. This evolved into the Freibad, an open-air swimming pool.
Unlike river and lake bathing spots, this pool needed its own water supply. Keeping the water clean was crucial because there was no constant water flow. In the 1920s, the Verein für Gesundheitspflege im Südwesten Berlins converted the Licht- und Luftbad into a proper swimming pool. A toboggan run and a running track were added.
Interestingly, the Insulaner hill wasn’t there yet. The pool was near the Rauhen Bergen of Steglitz. The hill came later from debris.
The Sommerbad Am Insulaner underwent a complete redesign in 1956-1957. It was now nestled at the foot of a newly created rubble mountain. The landscape was designed around the hill. It incorporated heights and dips. This design element set it apart from other Berlin pools.
The entrance exudes a charming 1950s vibe. The Sommerbad Am Insulaner is tucked away in a park at the foot of the Insulaner. It feels hidden from the outside world. The neighboring planetarium is more visible.
After entering, you walk through a park. The swimming facilities are hidden behind a small rise. It’s quite possible to wander through the green space without realizing you’re near a pool.
But then, the pools come into view. There’s a large pool for swimmers and another one for non-swimmers. There are bleachers and wide paths. It feels like a 1920s open-air park palace.
The Sommerbad Am Insulaner has a 50-meter pool. It also features a large non-swimmer pool. This pool includes water mushrooms. A large curved slide provides extra fun. For the little ones, a small baby pool looks like a miniature version of the non-swimmer pool. A slide, diving boards, and bubble jets complete the impressive bathing landscape.
The pool is made of metal with textured walls. This increases grip. When the sun reflects off the metal underwater, it creates beautiful patterns.
The changing rooms tell their own story. Some parts seem untouched. They have a patina that reminds some of Beelitzer Heilstätten, a sanatorium. The toilets were once described as places where “horses had just died”. But they have improved since then.
The Sommerbad Am Insulaner offers more than just swimming. There’s a new beach volleyball court. You can also find table tennis tables. A sandbox and climbing frame offer play opportunities.
The Sommerbad Am Insulaner is a place that challenges you. It has a beautiful design but a musty smell. The facilities are historically significant. They need renovation. Yet there’s a fear that renovation might ruin them. The Sommerbad Am Insulaner is lively with varied visitors. It offers great entertainment. But it might be difficult to swim properly. Is it still a swimming pool, or is it art?