The Nantes-based architecture firm Raum has refurbished and expanded a community swimming pool and spa center in Saint-Méen-Le-Grand, a picturesque locality in the northwestern French region of Brittany. There is a new sports pool and aqua-leisure area, and the original pool, the reception zone, the changing rooms, and other facilities have been restructured.

Drawing inspiration from the area’s traditional constructions of wood and slate, the project unified the complex through a cladding of black wood. This material reinforces the building’s energy performance but also gives it a clear visual identity in what is a heterogeneous context. Inside, the new pool opens out to the surrounding landscape, creating a fluid connection between the premises and nature.

The renovation strategy was formulated with the idea of preserving as many of the original constructions as possible, and on the basis of three fundamental principles: adapt to the diversity of the volumes of the existing buildings; reinforce their structural coherence by means of an isolated skin; and improve spatial connections with the topography of the place.

The transformation is respectful towards what’s around it and towards the local scenery. The interiors follow a similar logic, with a palette of homogeneous materials that ensure a harmonious relationship between old and new. The exposed structural layers and a carefully thought-out color scheme show how the building has evolved over time, providing a visual narrative that integrates the history of the complex with the new revamp.