Great lengths

Few places provide a better swimming experience than Paris’s Piscine Pontoise. With its yellow walls, blue decorative motifs and glass roof, this art deco pool in the 5th arrondissement is a jewel of the city’s architectural heritage. Designed by architect Lucien Pollet, whose works include the Piscine Molitor (now an M Gallery hotel) and Piscine Pailleron (in the 19th), the Pontoise has been open to the public since 1934 and has earned a place on the city’s list of historical monuments. But wear and tear had left the pool in a state of disrepair and the city of Paris closed its doors in 2019 for some much-needed renovations.

Pierre Marchand Architectes, a studio specialising in heritage buildings and restoration, took on the work. “We wanted to bring back the core elements that made this pool unique,” says Pierre Marchand. “Mainly the notion of light and transparency, which had been completely lost due to the glass-roof damage.” The project was a balancing act between technical upgrades and the building’s historic integrity. “The pool is 33 metres long,” says Marchand. “It’s an atypical length but a stylistic choice from Pollet, which we had to work around.”

Beyond the structural work, the aesthetic renovation of the Piscine Pontoise required the expertise of paint-restoration specialist, who uncovered the layers of paint to ensure a perfect match. They also brought back the original letterings of the pool’s signage, which Marchand incorporated into the new space. “We voluntarily kept the old expressions ‘Messieurs’ and ‘Dames’ instead of the contemporary ‘Hommes’ and ‘Femmes’,” he says. “We were also allowed by the council to have our own colour and signage, instead of the standard City of Paris ones”.

The result is a bright and welcoming space complete with a gym, sauna and squash court. For Marchand, extending the life of the pool in the heart of the Latin Quarter meant ensuring the continuity of the life around it. “The pool is a small building but people have an emotional attachment to it because it has been a meeting point for so many years,” he says. A swim at the Piscine Pontoise is a dive into the small pleasures of the French capital, enjoyed by generations of Parisians. “A 1930s bathing suit isn’t required,” adds Marchand with a grin. “But you are welcome to use them for historic effect.” — L