Play and Swim: A Unique Swimming Center for Children

Designed by Han Lee, this innovative swimming center caters to children aged 0-3, offering a unique blend of education, culture, art, and sports.

The inspiration for Play and Swim came from the lack of professional swimming and amusement facilities for children under three in Taiwan. The client, who had lived in the UK for several years, wanted to create a professional swimming pool that would aid in the training and development of the five senses for little swimmers. The design, therefore, had to be child-friendly but not childish, reflecting the professional quality of a swimming pool for pre-school children.

What sets Play and Swim apart from other designs is its unique approach to space. The wallpapers on the walls of the play space do not use bright colors or cute styles. Instead, they use abstract silhouettes and styles against the light to create visions of forests, animals, and the sky. This design element is intended to inspire children's visual thinking and imagination through abstract and concrete decoration.

The realization of the design was a challenge, given that the project was located in the basement of Taipei Arena. The design team had to carefully plan the space, the trend of pipelines, and the placement of the boiler to build a professional swimming pool under the large building volume of Taipei Arena. The project also involved extensive communication and negotiation with various administrative units.

Despite these challenges, the design team managed to create a space that is not only functional but also visually appealing. The entrance features curved lines that resemble a smiling face, welcoming clients. The walls are decorated with smile lines and inlaid mental silver wires in a wavy shape, introducing the image and softness of small waves on the surface of the water in the swimming pool. The other wall is decorated with shells in a pure and white texture, showing the purity of water and enhancing the professional quality of the swimming pool.

In conclusion, Play and Swim is a testament to Han Lee's innovative approach to design. Despite the challenges, the design team managed to create a space that is not only functional but also visually appealing and stimulating for its young users. The design, which won the Silver A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2019, is a testament to the designer's commitment to creating spaces that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.