Life Support Centre

A chlorine-free pool integrating within and restoring the web of life's systems, from FINA's swimming pool certification to the local ecosystem. The clay rich site on Water Street in Manchester City Centre is currently a carpark and a former cattle market. Remediated clay mixed with agricultural waste (i.e. corn, rice husk or straw) can produce a biodegradable PLA capable of being 3D printed. 2m thick clay walls printed with pockets for insulation provides thermal mass and structural stability for the roof. A layered timber gridshell roof achieves the required column free span of the pools. The projects systems aim to integrate within and add to the local ecosystems. A water source heat pump in the River Irwell and an air source heat pump in the gym heat the swimming pools. Waste water is initially treated in a small scale anaerobic digester to remove sludge and smell but the majority of water enters the algae, plankton, fish and reed filtration ponds before entering the River Irwell.