Hatcher Prichard Architects is proud to have designed the John James/Starfish Pool, a joint funding venture between The John James Foundation and The Starfish Trust. The building is a bespoke, stand alone hydrotherapy pool at Claremont Secondary SEN School, for pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) in Redland, Bristol.
A mature spa atmosphere throughout the building reflects the pupils’ seniority. A lattice of glulam structural timbers ‘hover’ over high level clerestory glazing on all four sides of the pool. The effect of constantly fluctuating sunshine and shadow on the timber beams has created an ever changing canvass of dappled light which encourages bathers to lie back calmly in the warm water.
For many disabled people their first session in a hydrotherapy pool can be their first time without pain. Warm water, high air temperatures and relief from body weight enable people to move in ways they cannot manage on land. Exercises can be more intensive than land based physiotherapy, this leads to new movements which are directly transferable to everyday life.
Please tap on the photo below or click here to see photos of how the pool took shape.
