Aquatic Center Wodny Park Tychy

TKHolding Truszczyński Kobierzewski sp. z o.o.

Short description

Wodny Park Tychy – Aquatic Center: A Blueprint for Sustainable Urban Transformation
In the heart of Silesia – a region long defined by its coal-based economy and environmental challenges – a bold, future-oriented vision has taken physical form. Wodny Park Tychy, the Aquatic Center, is not just a recreational facility. It is a living system, an integrated prototype for the cities of tomorrow, where entertainment, sustainability, energy production, and education coexist in perfect synergy.
From Energy Consumer to Energy Producer
Traditionally, aquatic centers are perceived as massive consumers of energy and resources, often considered unsustainable by design. But Wodny Park Tychy breaks this paradigm. For the first time in Poland – and one of the few instances globally – an aquatic facility has been embedded into a city-wide energy ecosystem, becoming not a burden, but an active contributor to the urban energy balance.
This revolutionary approach was achieved through an integrated partnership with the nearby wastewater treatment plant, which now serves a double role: water purification and bioenergy generation. This closed-loop system captures methane and CO₂ from the treatment process as biogas, which is then purified with the help of algae and used to fuel bio-thermal co-generators. The outcome is electricity and heat that not only power the water park and treatment plant but also feed into the city's energy grid. In the summer months, up to 50% of the hot water demand in Tychy households is covered by the Aquatic Center’s energy surplus.
Sustainable Thinking, Integrated Living
Wodny Park Tychy is not just a technical feat. It’s a cultural and architectural manifesto. Located between residential neighborhoods and a natural forest, it becomes a bridge between nature and urban life – a place of leisure, learning, and healing. The architecture draws inspiration from the tranquil surface of nearby Paprocany Lake. Curved, organic forms reflect the movement of water. The façade, composed of shimmering materials, evokes sunlight playing on lake ripples, creating a vibrant visual dialogue with its environment.
The elliptical footprint of the building was carefully chosen to maximize energy efficiency and optimize light penetration. A vast ETFE skylight bathes the interiors in natural light, reducing the reliance on artificial illumination and enhancing the feeling of openness and connection to the sky.
Multifunctionality as a Design Principle
The interior is a diverse ecosystem of experiences. Beyond traditional pools and saunas, the complex offers:
• A full-featured Wellness & SPA zone, including a unique beer SPA, a nod to Tychy's historical identity as home to the renowned Tyskie Brewery.
• A state-of-the-art indoor surfing facility and wave pool.
• A modern fitness center, children’s playgrounds, and dedicated relaxation areas.
• A multisensory sauna area, designed for deep rest and ritual.
All zones are unified by a common design language that combines fluid geometry, warm materials, and ambient lighting, fostering both social interaction and personal retreat.
A Center for Learning and Play
What truly sets Wodny Park Tychy apart is its Educational Center – a core component of the design that makes sustainability tangible and experiential. Through a curated, interdisciplinary exhibition, visitors of all ages learn about the physics of water, climate change, renewable energy, and ecological responsibility.
But this is no traditional museum. The architecture itself becomes part of the learning process through "architecture gamification". Visitors engage in real-life quests throughout the building, uncovering hidden facts embedded in design elements, solving puzzles, and discovering the invisible systems that power the facility. In this way, the building teaches – it becomes a narrative device, a game board, and a tool for civic education.
A New Urban Archetype
Wodny Park Tychy is more than an aquatic center – it is a prototype for the regenerative city, where infrastructure not only meets the needs of today, but anticipates the responsibilities of tomorrow. It integrates clean technology, circular economy principles, and human-centered design into a single, seamless experience. It proves that even in regions historically dependent on fossil fuels, new models of urban development are not only possible – they are already here.
The mission behind this project is clear: to inspire, to educate, and to lead by example. Wodny Park Tychy shows that the future of recreation is not just fun – it's smart, green, and deeply rooted in place.