It’s a church. It’s a pool. It’s a church and a pool! MVRDV and Zecc Architecten won a competition to transform St. Francis of Assisi Church in Heerlen, the Netherlands, into a public swimming pool. Architects aptly call their vision “Holy Water.” St. Francis of Assisi Church has been vacant since 2023. The competition was meant to give it a new social function and help preserve the historical features of a national monument. MVRDV cofounder Winy Maas sees Holy Water as a scalable model for other empty churches. Existing church pews will be recycled and placed off to the side, while historic artworks are concealed behind glass walls for safekeeping. (Courtesy MVRDV) “The vacancy rate of churches is increasing, so we need to come up with new, creative ideas for what we can do with these buildings, MVRDV’s Winy Maas said in a statement. “Why not give these churches a social function again, as they used to have?” “A public swimming pool is ideally suited for this,” Maas added. “Imagine: swimming the backstroke with a view of a church vault and stained-glass windows. By covering the entire pool area with a small layer of water, you can also create a beautiful visual effect, allowing the church to return to its original form and appear even larger and more impressive through the reflection.” The pool can be covered over to host formal gatherings, like galas. (Courtesy MVRDV) To make way for the swimming pool, the church’s existing floor will be removed. The pews will be repurposed as seating beneath the glass wools surrounding the pool, offering swimmers a place to rest or put down objects. The existing pulpit is where the lifeguard will sit. The swimming pool MVRDV and Zecc Architecten dreamt up for the church’s nave is adjustable—its floor can be lowered and raised to change the pool depth. In one iteration, a thin layer of water on the ground gives visitors the impression of walking on water, like Jesus! The pool’s floor can be lowered, to give the “feeling” of walking on water. (Courtesy MVRDV) A new mosaic floor will likewise border the pool and adjustable pool floor. The mosaic designed by the architects and local artists will echo the church’s existing colors, materials, and stained glass, but also Heerlen’s many public murals. Lighting above the pool will pay homage to the church’s original fixtures, based on historic photographs. Outside, architects envision an illuminated circular canopy marking the main entrance (a halo perhaps?) From there, visitors will enter through the church’s aisles to find changing rooms, or the catering facility, both tucked away in the rear. These spaces will be separated from the climatized pool space by glass walls. Architects imagine an illuminated halo outside the building. (Courtesy MVRDV) Bar seating and dining booths overlook the pool. (Courtesy MVRDV) Architects had to think creatively in regard to constructibility, and making a great concept real life. To heat the pool without damaging the church’s historic materials from humidity, glass walls will enclose the existing artworks. The wooden roof will need to be insulated from the outside, so sound-absorbing panels and new acoustic systems will be installed. The pool will be open for swimming in late 2027.