Boris Maninger studies pools, European Schwimmhallen, if you want to be specific about it. As he points out, there's a dramatic lack of research and academic investigation into the history of swimming pools, which is outrageous when you consider that the swimming pool is often central to the wellness of a community. Boris agreed to a little interview about his passion.
Please introduce yourself
I was born in 1973 in Germany, and came to Paris for my architecture studies in 1995. But as I don’t really wanted to spend my life in an office, in front of a computer screen, I decided not to work as an architect but to continue my studies in a subject about which I am really passionate: the history of architecture, and especially of swimming pools! I've been writing some articles for a German architecture magazine, but as I need a regular income too (life is quite expensive in Paris!) I continue my student job as steward within the legendary Wagons-Lits railway company, which I like a lot as it makes me travel a lot.
How did you become interested in studying pools?
Well, I think all begun with a visit of the Müllersches Volksbad in Munich and some similar pools in Berlin, maybe 15 years ago. I just was delighted and impressed by these wonderful Jugendstil buildings, of that quite special interface of great architecture and quiet water - some of these swimming pools almost resemble churches! I wanted to know more of their history, to discover other pools of the same period, but there was no book, no research done, I found nothing.
What are you? An architect? Swimmer? How do you describe yourself?
Maybe more a swimmer than an architect! I go swimming two or three times a week, for at least 3 kilometres. That might sound somehow obsessive but I really feel good when I do it, it’s very important for me! So I spend quite a lot of time of my life in the pools, that’s weird!!
What makes a pool good?
Firstly when there aren’t too many people; then when there’s enough space to swim, which is unfortunately quite rare in Paris, apart from the month of August, when all Parisians go to the Côte d’Azur; generous opening hours, until late evening. And great architecture too, of course.
And what makes a pool bad?
Essentially very basic things: a general lack of care for example, like dirtiness, toilet odours in the showers, too much chlorine in the water, etc. And also bad acts of refurbishments like putting plastic palms, cheap white plastic chairs, repainting in too strong and too many colours, styling up 1970s pool in a neo-antique-thermal style, etc. Very bad things have been done, especially during the 1980s and 90s.
Tell me about some of your favourite pools
Well, there are many and many different ones I think. Here in Paris I especially like the pools of the 1920s and 30s, like Pontoise, Pailleron or Pantin. Their architecture is elegant in both being classic and modern. Unfortunately lots of them are closed, including Molitor, Lutécia, Médan, and others. I like outdoor pools of the 1960s or 70s too, like Sceaux, because of their clear and reduced conception.
But what I like best are the pools of old spa towns, like the Friedrichsbad in Baden-Baden, or the Palais Thermal in Bad Wildbad. It is amazing that you still can use them now, they date from the 1870s. If you go there in winter you can easily spend the whole day in their hot waters – it’s so relaxing! And no modern pool can replace this particular atmosphere, if you visit both the modern Caracalla-Therme and the old Friedrichsbad in Baden-Baden you will understand what I mean. The colourful neo-Moorish decoration in the hammam of the first never can reach the authentic tiles of the second. Though there is one modern spa which is really an exception, because it’s really modern and not "faux-vieux," or fake old, that’s Vals in Switzerland with its pure stone directly in touch with the water.
Where are the pools that you'd most like to visit?
Probably in Germany. They are mostly clean and quiet, often combined with a spa or sauna area, and not too expensive. And in summer even small villages there offer an open air pool, often very simple, just a basic water basin, with some green meadows around, with a wooden hut being both entry and café, I love that.
Is there anything else you'd like to say?
Nowadays still lots of public pools are closed for financial reasons. Maybe fewer in France, there have been no serious budget reforms yet, but a lot in Germany and in England. For me this is incredible, because pools are so important for sports, relaxing, socialising, and more. Why are new roads and motorways always prioritised? Go swim to save them!
Read French? Then download Boris' research outline: La Volksbadebewegung Allemande (1874-1914): La Grande Vague De Construction De Piscines Publiques Couvertes (.doc, 4.3mb)
Heading for Brussels or Berlin? Boris recommends the following spots for a dip:
Brussels
Bains d’Ixelles – I like this very much, it’s probably the oldest still in use in Bruxelles.
Bain de la Ville/ Bains du Centre – This one is very interesting, the 1950s pool is on the third floor, with a nice buffet, which is no longer in use unfortunately, but it can seen through the glass doors.
Neptunium – It's near Bruxelles, I haven’t been there yet but it looks quite nice!
The pool of the Residence Palace, 155-175, rue de la Loi – It's not public but I managed to walk in to have a look at the wonderful 1920s coloured Art Deco interior.
Berlin
All the public pools can be found on: www.berlinerbaederbetriebe.de Click on "Bäder" and then "Portraits." The most interesting ones are:
Stadtbad Mitte (1925) – extremely modern for that time
Stadtbad Neukölln (1914) – with a very rich decoration, the "Grosse Halle" used to be the men’s pool, the "Kleine Halle" was for women. There is a quite nice spa-area as well, partly historic.
Stadtbad Charlottenburg – Alte Halle (1890s), the oldest pool still in use in Berlin
Stadtbad Spandau (circa 1914)
Stadtbad Schöneberg (1930s) – very nicely renovated
Sommerbad Olympiastadion (1936) – the Nazi outdoor swimming stadium!
Two historic pools are closed for the moment and are used as cultural sites, both will be reopened after renovation:
Stadtbad Oderberger
Statdbad Steglitz
There is also the historic Berlin beach of the 1920s
And there's the wonderful Badeschiff a pool on a barge moored on the river. It's only open in summer and in winter it's transformed into a sauna.
