The Yrjönkatu Swimming Hall in Kamppi, Helsinki, was the first public swimming hall in Finland when it was completed in 1928. In addition to the spa-like pool rooms and their ancillary facilities, the building was designed to host a physical therapy clinic, a dance school, a tennis court, a restaurant, a laundry and a hairdressing salon. The style of the building is typical of 1920s Nordic neoclassicism, with symmetrical façade compositions and decorative motifs inspired by antiquity.
Uncharacteristically for its time, the building was placed in the inner corner of the block, with only the short end of the building bordering the street. The building, closed off from the cityscape, is accentuated by its carefully detailed interiors.
The survey combined literature and archival research, as well as a study of old newspaper articles. The current state of the building was inventoried and documented by photographs.
The swimming pool has been in operation since its completion, which has allowed the pool facilities to remain almost in their original state despite the renovations. Some floors have undergone more extensive alterations and have been converted to office use, among other things. The building’s external appearance and façades have been very well preserved.
