Reviving the Jewel of Penzance: ScottWhitbyStudio's Transformative Design for Jubilee Pool

The Jubilee Pool in Penzance holds a special place in the hearts of many, not only in the local community but across the UK. It is the largest of only five surviving sea water lidos in the UK, and an important part of the built and social fabric of Penzance. Its connection to the sea is likely why it is so beloved, and why its loss would be so tragic and its revival so jubilant. The iconic art deco pool opened in 1935 to celebrate King George V's Silver Jubilee, at a time when Penzance was one of the country's premier holiday resorts. After years of Atlantic storms, the Grade II listed pool had fallen into disrepair and was threatened with closure. In 2017, ScottWhitbyStudio was asked to consider proposals for safeguarding the future of the pool by providing year round facilities for the people of Penzance, capitalising on geothermal energy to create the UK's only heated sea water pool. Often described as one of the jewels in Penzance's crown, the Jubilee Pool is a reminder of the memories we hold and the places that are dear to our hearts. The local residents were devastated by the potential loss of the once-proud pride of their town.

However, thanks to their determination and enthusiasm, the Pool was not only saved, but a new geothermal pool and community facilities were built, allowing it to be open all year round and acting as a catalyst for the regeneration of the town. In 2014-15, the Friends of the Jubilee Pool, a charity set up to restore the pool, purchased it. Subsequently, in 2018, £1.8 million was raised through significant investment from Cornwall Council, Penzance Town Council and EU funding, with £600,000 of this coming from a community share offer. The project, with the first phase completed in 2019, is now fully operational as a year-round community hub. The goal was to create a space that feels like home in the community and is fundamentally for the people of Penzance - a gift back to the people who saved it. The approach was to retain existing listed structures where possible, infilling between them in a modern interpretation of the low sweeping art deco design.

From the poolside, the design and material choices relate to and enhance the nautical characteristics of its context. The existing structures were updated to provide a robust defence against the aggressive sea-front conditions and two main volumes were created - an enlarged café and a new multi-purpose community hall, both opening directly onto a new public promenade. The Geothermal Pool utilises a geothermal well sunk down 410m to heat the water and maintain temperature with a very low carbon footprint. The sculpted roof that covers the length of the development references the forms of the pool itself and transitions from gentle undulations facing the street to strong horizontal lines facing the pool, echoing the poolside condition. The rippling roof of the promenade creates a dialogue with the scalloped walls of the churchyard opposite, celebrating the special light condition of the Penwith peninsula. By pulling up the roof to allow North light into the space, visual connections are made between those at the level of the promenade and passers-by at street level. ScottWhitbyStudio's architectural interventions take a back seat to the existing art deco, grade II listed structure, providing new visitor facilities to enable year-round activity and sustainable economic activity for the town. The pool is expected to enjoy another long and prosperous lease of life. 

CREDITS

Architect: ScottWhitbyStudio (Project Team: Alex Scott-Whitby, Osman Marfo-Gyasi, Mary Tyulkanova, Neil Broadbent, Cherng-Min Teong, Jaahid Ahmad, Ada Keco, Kirk Slankard)

QS (RIBA Stage 2): PT Projects

Structural Engineer: WebbYates Engineers

Conservation/Heritage: ScottWhitby Studio

Services Engineer: WebbYates Engineers

Project Manager/QS: Fox Cornwall

Main Contractor: Catling Construction

Joinery: A1 Construction Penzance

Polyurea Roofing: ESW

Fibreglass Cladding: Stuart Pease (Fibreglass Ltd)

Geothermal Engineering: GEON - GEL Geothermal Engineering Limited/Arup