Northwest University Swimming Pool Renovation, Chinese architecture design images, former outdoor swimming pool
Northwest University Swimming Pool Renovation
5 April 2026
Location: Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China
Design: Yuanbo Jia
Northwest University Swimming Pool Renovation, Xi’an, China
Photos courtesy of architects practice
Northwest University Swimming Pool Renovation Xi’an Public Space Design
This project is the renovation of an abandoned outdoor swimming pool located within the campus of Northwest University in Xi’an, China. The pool was once an important recreational space for students and nearby residents, but has gradually fallen out of use and become disconnected from everyday campus life.
The project aims to reactivate the site by reorganising the existing structure and transforming it into an open public space.
The site is adjacent to one of the busiest sports grounds on campus, with a high volume of pedestrian movement. However, the pool has remained closed and is currently used for storage, resulting in a fragmented relationship with its surroundings.
The existing structure shows various stages of material ageing and surface deterioration, including tile loss, cracking, and localised repairs. These accumulated conditions form the physical basis of the intervention.
The design is based on retaining and translating the existing structure. Rather than selectively preserving or restoring specific elements, the project uses the existing traces as a generative framework, reorganising the space through new spatial sequences and architectural insertions.
A high-resolution scan of the pool floor was conducted to record its surface conditions. Analysis revealed that different types of damage exhibit distinct spatial patterns, ranging from isolated tile loss to large-scale irregular areas.
Based on this mapping, a parametric approach was used to categorise these conditions and translate them into a system of spatial elements:
– Point-based areas are articulated as mirrored metal columns
– Linear areas are defined by concrete walls
– Surface areas are interpreted as low, curved timber structures
– This system allows the existing complexity to be organised while maintaining overall spatial coherence.
A previously repaired swimming lane and its surrounding damaged area were identified as a distinct condition within the site. This area is lowered and reintroduced as a continuous water channel.
The water element acts as a primary spatial organiser. Timber posts are inserted at intervals to allow movement across the space while maintaining the continuity of the water surface.
Through the combination of different structures and level changes, the project creates a range of spatial conditions, including open areas, semi-enclosed spaces, and more inward-facing zones.
These spaces support a variety of activities such as walking, resting, and informal gathering, offering different degrees of accessibility and visual connection.
By reorganising and translating the existing structure, the project transforms an abandoned site into an active public space without relying on large-scale demolition or reconstruction.
The intervention incorporates the existing physical conditions into a new spatial system, enabling the site to accommodate ongoing use and future adaptation.
Northwest University Swimming Pool Renovation, Xi’an – Building Information
Project Title: Northwest University Swimming Pool Renovation
Project Type: Landscape – Renovation
Client: Private
Architect: Yuanbo Jia
Site area: 1250㎡
Location: Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China
Status: Concept – Design
Project start date: 2022
Project completion date: 2022
Northwest University Swimming Pool Renovation Xi’an images / information received 040426
Location: Xi’an, China
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