The water worlds of 4a Architekten

Name: aquanale
Start: 2027-10-26
End: 2027-10-29
Location: Koelnmesse GmbH

The exhibition SWIMMING IN ATMOSPHERE by 4a Architekten was presented at aquanale in Cologne from 28 to 31 October 2025. After stops at the Aedes Architecture Forum in Berlin and at the State Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart, the exhibition was once again made accessible to a broad public.

Thirteen selected projects from the 4a Architekten portfolio were on display. Using models, plans and photos, they conveyed the complexity and multifaceted nature of contemporary pool construction – from school pools to thermal baths, from sports pools to wellness facilities, from energy self-sufficient swimming pools to the first indoor pool in modular timber construction.

In each case, a key element of swimming pool architecture took centre stage. Short video statements also provided insights into the design considerations of the office, showed how atmosphere was created and which aspects were important for economic efficiency and sustainability.

Architecture for people that appeals to all the senses

Since 1990, Stuttgart-based 4a Architekten had been designing atmospheric bathrooms in which function and design went hand in hand – from school and sports pools to wellness centres. With a keen sense of space, material, light and colour, they created places that invited both activity and relaxation.

With around 40 employees and a focus on the emotional quality of spaces, 4a was one of the leading offices in pool construction. The exhibition SWIMMING IN ATMOSPHERE, which was created in collaboration with OUP Visual Communication, provided an impressive insight into the office's work.