Neues Zentralbad mit Sporthallen / Centralbad med sporthallar , Göteborg/ Schweden

Verfahrensart
Eingeladener Architekturwettbewerb mit Vorauswahl

Wettbewerbsaufgabe
Die Stadt Göteborg plant die Entwicklung des zentral gelegenen Veranstaltungsgeländes. Ziel der Stadtentwicklung ist der Bau neuer Arenen und eines neuen Zentralbades mit Sporthallen, die eine deutlich höhere Kapazität als die heutigen haben sollen. Die Anlage soll Teil eines Stadtviertels mit belebten Erdgeschossen sein. Daher werden in diesem Gebiet auch Wohnungen, Dienstleistungen, Hotels, Geschäfte, Restaurants und Kindergärten entstehen.

Das Zentralbad mit Sporthallen soll ein gut gestaltetes, charakteristisches Gebäude werden, das hohe Anforderungen an Funktionalität, Nachhaltigkeit und die Fähigkeit, einen großen Publikumsstrom zu bewältigen, erfüllt. Es soll kommunale, alltägliche Dienstleistungen anbieten und SM-Wettkämpfe sowohl im Schwimm- als auch im Sporthallenbereich beherbergen. Das neue Zentralbad mit Sporthallen soll das Erbe des Valhallabad, das abgerissen wird, respektieren, indem es ein ähnlich hohes architektonisches Niveau beibehält.

Jury
Johan Sävhage, Direktor für Sport- und Vereinsverwaltung, Stadt Göteborg
Sandra Säljö, Direktorin für Sozialverwaltung Centrum
Björn Siesjö, Architekt SAR/MSA, Stadtarchitekt Stadtplanungsamt, Stadt Göteborg
Peter Grönberg, Geschäftsführer Göteborg & Co AB
Ann-Charlotte Hellman, Abteilungsleiterin Immobilien & Stadtentwicklung, Sport- und Vereinsverwaltung, Stadt Göteborg
Peter Erséus, Architekt SAR/MSA, Gründer Erséus Arkitekter AB
Rahel Belatchew, Architektin SAR/MSA, DESA, Geschäftsführerin und Gründerin Belatchew Arkitekter AB

Weitere Informationen zum Ergebnis unter:
goteborg.se/wps/portal/start/goteborg-vaxer/hitta-projekt/stadsomrade-centrum/evenemangsomradet-garda

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Press release by Henning Larsen, Copenhagen | October 01, 2025

Henning Larsen wins design competition for new public swimming and sports center in Gothenburg, Sweden

Henning Larsen has won the competition to design Gothenburg's new Centralbadet, a public swimming and sports center celebrating the city's traditions of sport, public health, and community life. The project will create a welcoming new landmark for Sweden's second-largest city.

Henning Larsen, together with Winell & Jern Architects, Ramboll, and John Dohlsten, Sports Science Lecturer at the University of Gothenburg, was selected in the anonymous competition organized by the City of Gothenburg, beating teams including BIG and Wingardh Arkitektkontor. The win continues Henning Larsen's legacy of designing civic and cultural landmarks in Sweden, including Malmö City Library, Uppsala Town Hall, and World of Volvo.

Expected to open in 2031, Centralbadet represents a long-term investment in Gothenburg's future. The timber structure swimming hall is seamlessly integrated into its surroundings through a thoughtfully designed landscape that links nearby parks and the river. The facility will support public health, sport, and community activity for people of all ages.

Excerpt from jury statement: "The winning entry will be both an elegant and vibrant facility for sports and swimming where the citizens of Gothenburg come together. Here you can settle on the benches built into the brick plinth or do your homework in the hanging nooks that complement the pools and sports halls. lt strengthens the connection between Valhallagatan and Burgardsparken. Visitors will move around the buildings, go up on the roof, or sit on the sun-facing steps by the river. This will be a place to learn to swim, reach new goals in basketball, and meet people...all in a beautiful environment," says Johan Sävhage, Chairman of the Jury and Director of the Sports and Associations Administration.

A house for everyone

Covering 51,850 m², Centralbadet brings together elite athletics and everyday recreation, including Olympic-standard swimming and diving, family and learning pools, four sports halls, a basketball court, and a fully equipped gym. Beyond sport, the building provides saunas, outdoor pools, a cafe and restaurant, flexible gathering areas, and offices for 200 municipality employees. Practical amenities such as changing facilities, a bicycle garage, and stroller parking ensure accessibility for all.

"Centralbadet is about more than pools and courts; it's about everyday experiences that bring people together. We have designed the space to ensure every visit prioritizes social and health benefits, creating a democratic space where everyone can feel welcome. From quiet nooks to lively terraces, from playful learning poo/s to sunlit rooftops, every visit will feel welcoming and connected to the rhythms of the city," says Martin Stenberg Ringner, Design Director, Henning Larsen.

Rooted in history and landscape

The design draws inspiration from Gothenburg's beloved Valhallabadet, continuing the city's legacy of public swimming. The design honors this heritage through art, landscape, and urban connections - from the landscaped Valhallagade to pathways echoing Nils Wedel's iconic mosaic walls.

Health, respite, and outdoor life have long characterized Katrinelund, the site of Gothenburg's historic swimming halls. The new Centralbadet's landscape will adapt to the city's development over time. The entrance opens toward the future sports arena to the south, while also connecting to Burgardsparken's green areas and the Mölndal River.

With active street façades, open sightlines, and integrated lighting, the building ensures safety and accessibility at all hours. The multi-level roof extends the sporting experience outdoors, with warm-up zones, running tracks connecting to the park, outdoor gyms, sunlit terraces, and raised planters. Large portions of the roof are green, supporting diverse plantings and promoting insect biodiversity.

Materiality

The material strategy balances durability with carefully selected materials that reduce carbon footprint and support reuse. Concrete provides stability for the pool basins, while upper structures use lightweight timber, including long-span glulam beams suited to humid environments. Timber is also applied in interior partitions, ceiling elements, and insulation wherever possible, lowering embodied carbon throughout the building.

Recycled bricks feature in the façades, and timber elements are designed for disassembly and reuse. Green roofs support biodiversity and manage stormwater, contributing to a resilient, long-lasting building.

The team will now refine the design in close collaboration with the City of Gothenburg, shaping a new chapter in the city's proud sporting tradition.

www.henninglarsen.com