Leça Swimming Pools, by Álvaro Siza, 1966 - in Leça, Matosinhos, Portugal
The Leça Swimming Pool complex consists of changing rooms, a café and two swimming pools, one for adults and one for children.
It is located between the Atlantic Ocean and the access road that follows the coastline, but positioned almost completely out of sight. By sinking the building behind the road Siza promotes a disconnect between his pools and the infrastructure of the city. He is also considerate of the ocean views from the roadway. Siza was careful to preserve a large portion of the existing rock formations when planning his modern interventions into the landscape. The pools he created reach out into the ocean and blend easily with the natural pool formations along the coast of the Atlantic.
