Planning proposal

Erection of swimming pool and library with associated facilities

Architect / agent

Page And Park Architects

Why this is a good design

This development represented a major investment by the Council in Campbeltown. It is a significant civic building of contemporary design which has a major impact on the park, the waterfront, and the town centre as a whole. It provides a modern, high standard replacement for swimming facilities which had been greatly missed since the demise of the original pool, and provides not only enhanced recreational opportunities for the local community, but an additional asset to tourism in Kintyre. The new library provides larger and improved facilities, and enabled the original library to be made available for other arts/cultural uses. 

The building is of modern styling and is viewed in its own context sitting in isolation within an existing public park on the site of the former Campbeltown Swimming Pool. The external wall finish is of a striking bright white render with dark grey facing brick and zinc and aluminium curtain walling; the roof covering is of aluminium laid with a very shallow fall. A grassed embankment has been built up to first floor level around the north elevation of the building.

The development has been designed to avoid, as far as possible, the ‘box’ like appearance often associated with buildings providing large volume internal spaces. It presents a contemporary curved elevation towards Kinloch Road and the main approach from the town, and the elevations are punctuated by various treatments and materials in order to break up the large expanses of walling. A contoured mounded area was formed along the north elevation to help to reduce the bulk of the building by concealing part of the ground floor and leads up to an expanse of curtain walling offering views out of the pool across Kinloch Park.