Ähtäri Swimming Pool: interview with the architect

In the heart of Finland, immersed in the pristine natural surroundings of Ähtäri, the new Ähtäri Swimming Pool is an innovative design project by the Studio Puisto firm of architects.
One of this project’s distinctive features is its use of the Grain Stone by Ergon collection, selected for its exquisite appearance and outstanding technical characteristics, ideal for a location that requires durability and safety.

To find out more about this project’s concept and challenges, we interviewed the architect Maiju Koskela of Studio Puisto, who told us about the creative process and design choices behind the facility’s creation.

What is the philosophy that inspires your interior design projects?

We aim to design well managed spaces with a strong, exciting mood. We draw inspiration from a timeless design that conveys a sense of balance, serenity and simplicity. We also take great care to ensure coherence between the architecture and the interior design, to create locations that blend attractively into their natural surroundings.

What was the most exciting thing about this project?

The most fascinating challenge was to design a municipal pool that would also be attractive to tourists, with a spa ambience. This required a perfect balance between aesthetics, intimacy and comfort, while never forgetting the highest degree of functionality.
What’s more, this was the first swimming pool Studio Puisto had ever designed, so we had to deepen our knowledge of the appropriate materials and the regulations on accessibility and practical features.
Basically, the biggest challenge was to come up with a solution that would combine the technical demands of a location exposed to heavy wear and tear with a design conveying tranquillity and wellbeing.

What did you most appreciate about Emilgroup?

We found the Emilgroup range provided a perfect product for this project, not only in terms of appearance but also with regard to the technical characteristics required for a swimming pool.
The therapy pool area had to have a more intimate, reassuring atmosphere, so we chose to clad this pool completely with the Grain Stone collection, too. For technical reasons, we needed a smaller size, and Emilgroup was able to supply it without any problems, adapting perfectly to the project’s demands.
Emilgroup’s Finnish distributor, ABL-Laatat, also provided crucial support, supplying us with all the information we needed to identify the most suitable product, and they oversaw the project with great professional expertise, guaranteeing its success.

Discover the project