html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" MVRDV and Zecc Architecten have won a competition for the transformation of the St. Francis of Assisi Church in Heerlen into a public swimming pool. The transformation, known as Holy Water, preserves the historic features of this national monument while giving the abandoned church a new, social purpose. The 1,270-square-metre conversion of a church will feature a public pool with accompanying facilities.EntranceThe area that was originally the church's nave is made more adaptable by a movable swimming pool floor, which enables it to accommodate a range of activities beyond swimming. Additionally, the floor allows for the creation of a thin layer of water that fills the entire room, giving guests the impression that they are walking on water.The St. Francis of Assisi Church in Heerlen, in the southern Netherlands, was constructed more than a century ago. In 2023, it ceased to hold services, giving the municipality the chance to find a new use for the structure. In addition to providing a solution for the growing number of visitors to Heerlen's existing pools, a new pool in this national monument will revitalize the abandoned structure with its recognizable silhouette in the heart of the city. The church's makeover is part of a broader expansion in the city center that also includes the refurbishment of the Royal-Rivoli movie theater and the opening of a Roman museum.Pool and choir viewThe main entrance is designated by a lighted circular canopy in the design, which serves as both a modern feature that unites the old and the new and a nod to the church's history. Once inside, guests can make their way along the aisles to the back of the church, where they can find the catering area and changing rooms. These passageways are divided from the main pool area by glass walls.Carefully removing the current floor will provide space for the swimming pool. By repurposing the church pews, they will be incorporated into the glass walls that divide the pool, offering swimmers seats on one side and bar tables for onlookers on the other. A lifeguard is seated in the antique pulpit, which has been given a new purpose.Restaurant view from poolBecause the bottom of the pool can be raised and lowered, swimmers of all ages and skill levels can engage in a variety of activities. In its most extreme position, the floor can be lifted all the way, concealing the pool below and restoring a level floor so that social and cultural activities can take place there as well. Additionally, a shallow layer of water might cover the entire pool area. With the correct illumination, visitors will be able to "walk on water" inside the church as the interior is reflected in this little pool."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," said Winy Maas, founding partner of MVRDV. "Why not give these churches a social function again, as they used to have? A public swimming pool is ideally suited for this. 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," Maas added.Restaurant colonnadeBoth the moveable pool floor and the pool's surroundings will be adorned with a brand-new mosaic floor. This will make reference to the church's current stained-glass windows, colors, and materials. In response to the numerous murals that Heerlen has to offer, the design for this floor will be created in partnership with regional artists. The four rows of lights above the pool serve as lane markers for the swimmers and are modeled after the ancient church lamps seen in old photos.The ability to adequately and sustainably heat the pool area while shielding the historic materials from the pool's dampness was a special architectural problem. Raised floor for eventsTo address this, the pool's glass walls provide a compartmentalizing effect that safeguards the artwork and stained glass. In order to prevent excessive heat loss and preserve the interior view of the ancient brickwork, the church's roof will be insulated from the outside.The current roof covering will be replaced following insulation. For improved acoustics, sound-absorbing panels will be installed on the wooden roof, which will remain in place. Air management units in the basement have been subtly integrated with the technical installations. This strategy maintains the church's original features as much as possible while guaranteeing a cozy and energy-efficient interior environment.Mirror churchMVRDV, Zecc Architecten, IMd Raadgevende Ingenieurs, Nelissen Ingenieursbureau, and the construction economics firm SkaaL collaborated to produce the design for Holy Water. It is anticipated that the first dive will occur at the end of 2027.SectionSectionRecently, MVRDV won a competition to design a new structure in Zhubei, Taiwan. The project integrates a market and food hall with cultural spaces. In addition, the firm completed a new visitor and experience centre with a stack of rotated volumes offering expansive views at the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Moreover, the firm unveiled design for a shopping mall made up of a stack of colorful boxes in Chengdu, China. Project factsProject Name: Holy Water Location: Heerlen, Netherlands Year: 2025Client: Gemeente HeerlenArchitect: MVRDV, Zecc ArchitectenFounding Partner in charge: Winy MaasDirector: Gideon MaaslandDesign Team: Gijs Rikken, Magda Porcoțeanu, Justin Vermeulen Copyright: MVRDV Winy Maas, Jacob van Rijs, Nathalie de VriesDesign Team (Zecc Architecten): Bart Kellerhuis, Roy van Maarseveen, Thijmen HilhorstStructural engineer: IMDCost calculation: SkaalBuilding physics: Nelissen IngenieursbureauAll images & drawings  © MVRDV and Zecc Architecten.> via MVRDV