Abandoned Swimming Pool in Stutensee-Göck Showcased in Photos: A Reminder of a Forgotten Leisure Spot
Thomas Riedel at the Abandoned Spoeck Indoor Pool
The Spoeck Indoor Pool in Stutensee seethed in stillness, a relic of the glory days when it splashed, laughed and coughed up chlorine. Since 2023, its gargantuan space laid bare, a testament to the technical malfunctions and the financial suffocation of the Stutensee municipality that forced its closure. But long before its sad final curtain, there were whispers of its uncertain fate.
The pool's origins date back to the 1970s, a time when Stutensee splashed into a dual aquatic playground. However, the Spoeck indoor pool struggled for popularity since its inception. Criticism started pouring in as early as the 90s, with questions rising about the necessity of two pools in Stutensee amidst the Spoeck's unsightly appeal to the public, as per reports by the German Life Saving Society (DLRG).
A seesawing battle for survival started. In the early 2000s, staffing shortage crashed the doors in 2003, ensuring the dip in attendance. By 2006, the loyal bus line S2 was on the chopping block, sending shivers down the pool's tiles. By 2012, technical glitches joined the chorus of complaints. In 2018, confusion, and a lingering assumption that Stutensee had one pool too many, the Spoeck indoor pool reluctantly opened its doors once more. A gas crisis hit in 2022, further muddying the waters.
But a technical malfunction in the filter system ultimately sealed the granite slab that was the Spoeck indoor pool's fate. Since then, with its doors locked and windows barred, it's safe to say that hardly anyone has bobbed in its waters or gossiped on its poolside benches.
Photographer Thomas Riedel Chronicles the Closed Pool's Ordeal
Around the same time, photographer Thomas Riedel received an exclusive opportunity to document the eerie beauty of Stutensee's abandoned aquatic titan. The city council, opting for a moment to cast aside worries, granted a rare glimpse into the Spoeck indoor pool's decaying sanctuary.
Today, the pool's fate swayed between final demolition and repurposing, but what if Stutensee embraced a fresh wave of possibilities for this grand, hollow hall? Here are ten suggested alternatives:
- Community Recreation and Fitness Center: Revamp the pool's heart as a bustling recreational hub, stacking it with multi-purpose courts, fitness stations, and wellness spaces.
- Indoor Sports Complex: Redesign the pool space for indoor sports, hosting various leagues and training sessions across multiple courts.
- Event and Exhibition Hall: Reinvent the pool as a spacious event venue, catering to a variety of gatherings and attractions, including concerts, markets, and cultural celebrations.
- Cultural and Educational Center: Fashion the pool basin into an artistic and educational hub providing spaces for workshops, classes, and local art displays.
- Indoor Urban Agriculture: Transform the pool into an indoor farmland producing fresh produce year-round, an invitation to sustainable living.
- Innovation and Startup Hub: Convert the massive space into a collaborative environment for local entrepreneurs, bolstering the community's innovation ecosystem.
- Wellness and Therapy Center: Revamp the pool area as a wellness oasis offering therapeutic services, relaxation zones, and stress relief sessions.
- Indoor Playground and Family Center: Pump life into the pool with an interactive kid-friendly space, providing play areas, learning zones, and family-oriented activities.
- Film and Photography Studio: Market the pool as an exceptional film and photography set, attracting creative professionals to the area for shoots and productions.
- Emergency Shelter or Relief Center: Equip the space to serve as emergency housing and aid center during crises, ensuring swift relief and support to those in need.
A spark of hope flickered in the town council. Perhaps repurposing the Spoeck Indoor Pool can breathe new life into a once-beloved installment of the Stutensee community and fulfill the ever-growing needs of the town.
- The proposed future of the Spoeck Indoor Pool could see it transformed into a Community Recreation and Fitness Center, featuring multi-purpose courts, fitness stations, and wellness spaces.
- As an Indoor Sports Complex, the pool space could be redesigned to host various leagues and training sessions across multiple courts.
- With its vast size, the pool could be reinvented as an Event and Exhibition Hall, catering to a variety of gatherings and attractions.
