Schwimmhalle Pankow

The Schwimmhalle Pankow stands in Berlin’s Pankow district beside the Sommerbad Pankow. Built in 1975 as East Berlin’s largest and most modern indoor pool, it was designed by architect Gunther Derdau. The hall once housed a 25-metre pool with five lanes, a 100 m² learner pool, and a sauna in the basement. The building’s useful life ended in 2000 when lack of funds prevented renovation. Since then rain, wind and vandalism have stripped away tiles and fittings. Plans drawn up in 2018 propose demolishing the ruin and replacing it with a new leisure complex costing €42 million. Until the new work begins the site remains an overgrown ruin. The adjacent Sommerbad Pankow continues to operate while the old hall waits for demolition. A future school, sports hall and enlarged playground will share the ground once the complex is finished.