Arava Aquatic Center

Arava Aquatic Sports Centre, located in Sapir, community settlement in southern Israel, was developed by Zait Lev Architects.

With an area of 3600 m2 it offers different swimming pools and a community centre  in Arava desert.

The project serves as an open platform for community activities and public events in addition to swimming lessons and competitions, as well as other sports, leisure and recreational activities.

According to the architects responsible for the project, Arava Aquatic Center "reclaims part of the historical function of the well: water as a source of life and a place that provides opportunities for social activities and gatherings.

The heart of the project "is based on a continuous three-dimensional body of water, which flows between the construction. It allows movement over it in bridges and offers a wide variety of spatial situations between the water and the built structure".

The water body is used for a semi-Olympic pool, a paddling pool, a paddling pool for toddlers, waterfalls and various types of seating and wading areas.

Arava Aquatic Sports Centre was planned in accordance with the criteria required to receive green building certification: photovoltaic panels have been installed on the roof, skylights between the roof and the built-up area allow indirect daylight to enter, trees outside provide natural shade for the complex. And "in the centre of the building there is a natural cooling tower which, as a result of pressure differences, creates a movement of air from inside the building to the outside which is cooled in contact with water".

The project is equipped with Phalcel Linear Series U 31 metal ceilings.