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Bletchley Leisure Centre

FaulknerBrowns, Milton Keynes, 1974

 

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The pyramid pool in its setting 

Bill Toomey     Download Original

  • The pyramid pool in its setting    
  • Free flowing pool with palm trees    
  • Apex of the pyramid with lighting booms    
  • Rigid geometry of roof contrasts with free shape of pool    
  • Kiddies corner and way through to nursery    
  • GRP tube    
  • GRP tube gives firts floor connection to the leisure centre from the car park    
  • First floor reception    
  • Cirulation space around first floor social catering core    
  • First hall discoteque and exhibition space    
  • Full height netting can divide the sports hall into two large activity areas    
  • Glare free lighting in the bowls hallis by warm fluorescent strips concealed in V-shaped ceiling troughs    
  • Glass walled squash court    
  • Keyhole entrance to the bar    
  • Sports hall    
  • View from the refreshment complex into the sports hall    
  • Youth centre    
  • Site plan    
  • Ground floor plan    
  • First floor plan    
  • Second floor plan    
  • Pool area plans    
  • North-south section    
  • West-east section    
  • Model of pool    
  • Pyramid construction    
  • Detail of glazed wall to admin block    

Leisure centre containing a sports hall, squash courts, bowling green, youth centre, cafeteria, bars and a swimming pool housed in a distinctive pyramid shaped building

A glass reinforced plastic (GRP) raised and covered walkway gives first floor connection to the leisure centre from an existing multi-storey car park. This main entrance at first floor level leads to a concourse and arcade from which all of the centres main facilities are displayed.

The leisure centre is arranged in a cruciform plan. A fully glazed central spine block is attached to three brick boxes - the main hall, the bowls wing and the gymnasium/squash block, and the pyramidal swimming pool hall.

The free form curved leisure pool is enclosed by a pyramid constructed of a galvanised steel space frame structure and covered with double-skin bronze acrylic sheets.

The centre was demolished in 2010.

Data

  • Begun: Sep 1971
  • Completed: 1974
  • Floor area: 6,713m2
  • Sector: Sports and leisure
  • Total cost: £1.1M
  • Tender date: Aug 1971
  • Procurement: Negotiated RIBA 1963 edition
  • Address: Prince's Way, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK2 2HQ, United Kingdom

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