Tournesol Swimming Pool

Following France’s poor results in the 1968 Olympic Games swimming competition, the State launched a tender to build a series of one thousand swimming pools to teach the nation to swim. The architect Bernard Schoeler replied with the “Tournesol” swimming pool, covered but convertible into an open-air pool by opening the dome 120°. 180 “Tournesol” pools were built between 1972 and 1984. Lorient’s pool dates from 1977. As well as looking like a flying saucer, these pools were original in their construction: a metal frame combined with a roof of prefabricated slates comprised of two polyester skins and a foam core for heat insulation.