Emajõe Linnaujula
Emajõe City Swimming Pool
Emajõe City Bathing Spot on the bank of Emajõe River in Tartu, was designed to modernize the city beach, improve accessibility, add new qualities and functions, while preserving the existing natural environment.
Design language is inspired from the front of the ship and its opposite from round line. Combined with the triangle, the circle creates familiar location marker icon from the maps " You are here! ". Beach is divided into nooks, each one with a seating and sunbathing platform and playing equipment. Children's play equipment is scattered out rather than concentrated in one place. This creates places that are equal in terms of the scope of activity, but different in essence.
Pin-shaped swimming dock takes into account the river's flow direction and forms wooden sunbathing platforms, a shallow pool in the river for children and a separate bathing area for adults. Wooden and metal details used in the beach area derive from this motif.
Play equipment has simple forms to stimulate children's rich imagination and creativity and is meant for different capabilities according to the age and physical capabilities of a child. Colourful, eye-catching climbing frames add a vertical dimension and allow children to exercise and play fantasy games.
Volleyball and sports area are located separately. The latter is concentrated in exercising pockets and designed for different target groups: calisthenics equipment, outdoor gym and equipment for the elderly.
Around the beach area a path is created in the surrounding nature, according to the existing plants and landscape features, providing a walk in shade and silence.
To create an inclusive urban space, experts were consulted regarding biodiversity (numerous bat colonies), swimming and mobility. Access roads for pedestrians and cyclists were built; people with special needs were provided with convenient access.
The beach area has been well received by people, as it offers leisure all year around and the citizens of Tartu voted the renewal of the Emajõe City Swimming Pool as the Tartu Act of the Year 2022.
Bathing culture is part of the human history in every waterfront city. A public beach is a special type of public space, which must offer rest and moderate physical activity for everyone. In the conditions of general urbanization, there is an increasing need to promote healthy and active lifestyle in an urban space close to nature and bring additional amenities to recreation areas.
The design solution of Emajõe City Swimming Pool is logically and seamlessly integrated to the existing preserved situation.
To find the best solution that benefits people and preserves nature, Estonian Nature Fond advised about bats, swimming possibilities were discussed with winter swimmers, the movement laboratory of the University of Tartu and the Association of People with Mobility Disabilities of Tartu helped to conceptualize an inclusive urban space. To prevent possible negative effects to aquatic life and affect the flow of the river as little as possible, an engineering firm was involved in the design of the water structures.