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Located four miles from Manchester\u2019s city center, Withington Baths is a cherished historical asset. Opened in 1913 as the city\u2019s first pool for mixed swimming, it was saved from demolition by passionate community advocacy. Now managed by the charity Love Withington Baths, the facility is sustained by fundraising and a significant grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. To secure its financial future and meet growing membership, Wei Feng\u2019s proposal introduces a vital extension designed for year-round activity.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Driven by three core principles \u2014 well-being, connection, and inclusivity \u2014 the design team sought to transform Withington Baths into a vibrant, layered space that reflects community values and ecological harmony. A central theme is human\u2013non-human coexistence, realized through integrated green infrastructure and birdhouse architecture. This approach creates a shared habitat, inviting biodiversity to thrive alongside human activity and turning the building into a living ecosystem.<\/p>\n all images courtesy of Wei Feng<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The extension\u2019s form completes Henry Price\u2019s original early-20th-century plan, which envisioned three connected Edwardian buildings. While financial constraints halted the original project at two, Wei Feng\u2019s proposal erects the third structure in a contemporary language. \u2018We respect the historical context by using brick and terracotta but reinterpret Edwardian features like columns and pilasters as functional ventilation towers,\u2019<\/em> notes the architect<\/a>.<\/strong> The roll-glass windows and terracotta birdhouses are inspired by the iconic bluebell tiles in the existing pool, forging a subtle link between old and new. We addressed several key design challenges. The original building\u2019s ground floor, a service void lacking daylight, is reimagined to support open, accessible uses. A 580 millimeter level difference between the old and new structures, a significant accessibility hurdle, was resolved with a carefully integrated 1:12 ramp.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Construction also posed technical difficulties, with complex, bespoke structural junctions requiring extensive digital modeling and collaboration with engineers. Sustainability is central to our material selection. Recycled galvanized steel, reclaimed brick, and prefabricated CLT beams reduce embodied carbon and minimize waste. The spatial layout strategically separates wet and dry zones: the original building retains the swimming pools, while the extension houses a gym, yoga studio, co-working spaces, and a caf\u00e9. This project not only preserves Withington Bath\u2019s rich legacy but also positions it for a resilient and inclusive future.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n multifunctional hall<\/p>\n South-West and North-West elevations<\/p>\n North-West and South-East elevations, 1:100<\/p>\n Sections 1 and 2, 1:100<\/p>\n Section 3, 1:25<\/p>\n axonometric view<\/p>\n location plan, 1:250<\/p>\n ground floor plan, 1:100<\/p>\n first floor plan, 1:100<\/p>\n roof plan, 1:100<\/p>\n construction details A and B, 1:5<\/p>\n \t<\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n project info:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n name:<\/strong> Fertisil Withington Bath \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n designboom has received this project from our <\/em>DIY submissions<\/em><\/a> feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers <\/em>here.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n The post birdhouse-lined extension transforms manchester\u2019s withington baths into shared habitat<\/a> appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" wei feng leads inclusive, sustainable restoration \u00a0 Located four miles from Manchester\u2019s city center, Withington Baths is a cherished historical asset. Opened in 1913 as the city\u2019s first pool for mixed swimming, it was saved … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[142],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nWithington Baths\u2019 new extension salvages its historical context<\/h2>\n
\narchitect:<\/strong>\u00a0Wei Feng<\/a><\/p>\n