Sixty thousand square meters of pure aquatic bliss. That’s the Westbad in Regensburg. Picture this incredible place.
The Westbad isn’t just a swimming pool. It’s a testament to Regensburg’s history. It opened in 1972. The city needed a new pool. The old Donaubad closed. The Main-Danube Canal was under construction. The Westbad was more than just a replacement. It was a vision. A multifunctional marvel. The city council chose a design similar to the Piscine Georges Hermant in Paris. A futuristic design with a remarkable retractable roof.
Initially the Westbad incorporated a natural lake. It boasted 90000 square meters of play and lounging areas. The building itself was constructed quickly. It used a prefabricated system of reinforced concrete. The unique roof was made of translucent white polyester. On sunny days it could be opened mechanically. This transformed the indoor pool into an extension of the outdoor area.
However this innovative roof proved unreliable. It needed frequent repairs. After a few years it was permanently closed. The thin material also presented energy efficiency challenges.
A major renovation began in 1984. It lasted three years. The Westbad got a new solid roof. This was part of a larger renovation plan by the Frankfurt architectural firm Fischer Glaser and Kretschmer. The Westbad reopened in 1987. In 2006 a new sauna area opened. Further renovations took place in 2013. These focused on repairs to the acoustic ceiling.
Today the Westbad features a striking pyramidal timber roof. It has an indoor and outdoor area. The total water surface covers 3472 square meters. The indoor area houses Regensburg’s only covered Olympic-sized swimming pool. This pool is used by several local sports clubs. It hosts a 50-meter sports pool wave pool indoor thermal pool and a paddling pool. The outdoor area includes a paddling pool diving pool outdoor thermal pool and a spa pool. There is also a diving tower waterslide and a large sunbathing lawn. The sauna area adds another 6200 square meters of space.
The Westbad welcomes roughly 600000 visitors annually. Its history is rich. It reflects Regensburg’s spirit of innovation. A place for relaxation competition and fun for all ages. A true jewel in Regensburg.