Henning Larsen has won the competition to design Gothenburg’s new Centralbadet, a public swimming and sports center celebrating the city’s traditions of sport, public health, and community life. The project will create a welcoming new landmark for Sweden’s second-largest city.
Henning Larsen, together with Winell & Jern Architects, Ramboll, and John Dohlsten, Sports Science Lecturer at the University of Gothenburg, was selected in the anonymous competition organized by the City of Gothenburg, beating teams including BIG and Wingårdh Arkitektkontor. The win continues Henning Larsen’s legacy of designing civic and cultural landmarks in Sweden, including Malmö City Library, Uppsala Town Hall, and World of Volvo.
Expected to open in 2031, Centralbadet represents a long-term investment in Gothenburg’s future. The timber structure swimming hall is seamlessly integrated into its surroundings through a thoughtfully designed landscape that links nearby parks and the river. The facility will support public health, sport, and community activity for people of all ages.
“The winning entry will be both an elegant and vibrant facility for sports and swimming where the citizens of Gothenburg come together. Here you can settle on the benches built into the brick plinth or do your homework in the hanging nooks that complement the pools and sports halls. It strengthens the connection between Valhallagatan and Burgårdsparken. Visitors will move around the buildings, go up on the roof, or sit on the sun-facing steps by the river. This will be a place to learn to swim, reach new goals in basketball, and meet people…all in a beautiful environment,” said Johan Sävhage, Chairman of the Jury and Director of the Sports and Associations Administration.
A house for everyone
Covering 51,850m 2, Centralbadet brings together elite athletics and everyday recreation, including Olympic-standard swimming and diving, family and learning pools, four sports halls, a basketball court, and a fully equipped gym. Beyond sport, the building provides saunas, outdoor pools, a café and restaurant, flexible gathering areas, and offices for 200 municipality employees. Practical amenities such as changing facilities, a bicycle garage, and stroller parking ensure accessibility for all.
“Centralbadet is about more than pools and courts; it’s about everyday experiences that bring people together. We have designed the space to ensure every visit prioritizes social and health benefits, creating a democratic space where everyone can feel welcome. From quiet nooks to lively terraces, from playful learning pools to sunlit rooftops, every visit will feel welcoming and connected to the rhythms of the city,” said Martin Stenberg Ringnér, Design Director, Henning Larsen.
Rooted in history and landscape
The design draws inspiration from Gothenburg’s beloved Valhallabadet, continuing the city’s legacy of public swimming. The design honors this heritage through art, landscape, and urban connections – from the landscaped Valhallagade to pathways echoing Nils Wedel’s iconic mosaic walls.
Health, respite, and outdoor life have long characterized Katrinelund, the site of Gothenburg’s historic swimming halls. The new Centralbadet’s landscape will adapt to the city’s development over time. The entrance opens toward the future sports arena to the south, while also connecting to Burgårdsparken’s green areas and the Mölndal River.
With active street facades, open sightlines, and integrated lighting, the building ensures safety and accessibility at all hours. The multi-level roof extends the sporting experience outdoors, with warm-up zones, running tracks connecting to the park, outdoor gyms, sunlit terraces, and raised planters. Large portions of the roof are green, supporting diverse plantings and promoting insect biodiversity.
Materiality
The material strategy balances durability with carefully selected materials that reduce carbon footprint and support reuse. Concrete provides stability for the pool basins, while upper structures use lightweight timber, including long-span glulam beams suited to humid environments. Timber is also applied in interior partitions, ceiling elements, and insulation wherever possible, lowering embodied carbon throughout the building.
Recycled bricks feature in the faqades, and timber elements are designed for disassembly and reuse. Green roofs support biodiversity and manage stormwater, contributing to a resilient, long-lasting building. Looking ahead, the team will refine the design in close collaboration with the City of Gothenburg, shaping a new chapter in the city’s proud sporting tradition.
