Hallenbad Nord

The Hallenbad Nord stands in Ludwigshafen am Rhein as a relic of post-war modernism. Designed in 1937 by Heinrich Müller for IG Farben, the project was later adapted by architects Heinrich Schmitt and Philipp Blaumer. Their plan centred on an atrium courtyard flanked by separate wings for men and women, with a glass-walled swimming hall opening onto a sun terrace. A 25-metre pool, diving boards, and a planned sports complex were envisaged but never fully realised. After the Second World War, BASF funded the scheme and the building opened in 1956 under Schmitt’s revised design. The building is worth the journey for its architectural importance and surviving details. Its reinforced-concrete structure with ribbed ceilings reflects the post-war era’s building methods. Inside, a sculpture by Georg Kolbe, Fliegender Genius, graces the entrance hall. Mosaics by Rolf Müller-Landau adorn the sauna area, and the original milk bar and hairdresser’s salon remain. A 300-seat grandstand was added for spectators, showing the hall’s dual role as a public bath and event space. Visitors today find a repurposed ensemble. The main pool serves as a fire-fighting reservoir for a nearby waste-to-energy plant. The former teaching pool is now a conference room, while the entrance hall retains its mid-century fittings. The atrium courtyard still links the wings, offering a quiet space framed by clean lines and natural light. The overall effect is one of restrained elegance, a snapshot of 1950s design philosophy preserved under monument protection.