#Sports facility #Liège #1938
Place Xavier-Neujean 22
4000
Liège,
Belgium
Public transport: Opéra
Access: Public building, free entry during working hours
Today's use: Public building
Description
When the baths were built, they could called a bathing centre. The construction from the outside is clearly structured. Behind the large window facing south is situated the swimming pool on the second and third floors. In addition to the large pool and the children's pool on the 3rd floor, there was space for 1250 spectators around the pools. The bathroom could be also considered as a stadium. Furthermore the baths housed dance and billiards rooms and a small bus station on the ground floor. All in all, the complex was a small urban organism. The entire building is spanned by a barrel-vaulted steel structure in which glass blocks were once built in to ensure optimal illumination with daylight.
Description
When the baths were built, they could called a bathing centre. The construction from the outside is clearly structured. Behind the large window facing south is situated the swimming pool on the second and third floors. In addition to the large pool and the children's pool on the 3rd floor, there was space for 1250 spectators around the pools. The bathroom could be also considered as a stadium. Furthermore the baths housed dance and billiards rooms and a small bus station on the ground floor. All in all, the complex was a small urban organism. The entire building is spanned by a barrel-vaulted steel structure in which glass blocks were once built in to ensure optimal illumination with daylight.
History
The plans of the municipality to built a public bath and sports centre date back to 1936. Construction works started in 1938, but due to the beginning of the Second World War, they were finished not before 1942. The war was also the reason for setting up air raid shelters for 400 people in the building. The German occupants allowed only Germans to use the baths during World War II.
In 2000 the bath stopped to exist. The municipality considered the demolition. But the people started to demonstrate, so that the abandonded building was saved, in particular by the classification as a cultural monument of Wallonia in 2005.
In 2009 reconstructioms of the old baths began, and since 2014 the building is home to the Cité de Miroir (Mirror City), a cultural venue for exhibitions, a library and much more.
For some historical pictures you can click here.
History
The plans of the municipality to built a public bath and sports centre date back to 1936. Construction works started in 1938, but due to the beginning of the Second World War, they were finished not before 1942. The war was also the reason for setting up air raid shelters for 400 people in the building. The German occupants allowed only Germans to use the baths during World War II.
In 2000 the bath stopped to exist. The municipality considered the demolition. But the people started to demonstrate, so that the abandonded building was saved, in particular by the classification as a cultural monument of Wallonia in 2005.
In 2009 reconstructioms of the old baths began, and since 2014 the building is home to the Cité de Miroir (Mirror City), a cultural venue for exhibitions, a library and much more.
For some historical pictures you can click here.
Sources
Sources
