At the confluence of two streams, near Lidové sady—Liberec’s stately villa district—lies a place with a deep bathing tradition. The water there is as cold as ice. Every local knows this beauty hidden beneath century-old spruces as Lesní koupaliště—the Forest Pool. A few years ago, Mjölk architekti decided to lease it from the city and build a brand-new facilities building nearby. Now, standing on the edge of the pool, looking at the snow-white building that lines the forest’s edge like lace, waiting for its first visitors, the thought is clear—it was all worth it.

The new building is not a showcase for lavish public spending. With minimal cost, we managed to build a public facility that would’ve been almost impossible without civic initiative. Our contribution wasn’t just physical labor but also all the project and organizational work such a building entails. The resulting design focused on ease of construction, phaseability, and financial accessibility. The timber structure, following the two height levels of the original concrete slab, provides the core functional spaces of the building. The combined system of CLT panels and lightweight timber framing incorporates storage, toilets, a sauna with a lounge, and a bistro. The steel roof structure serves as both umbrella and parasol—sheltering the building and visitors from bad weather. Under the roof are showers, changing rooms, and lockers.