The Mon-Repos swimming pool is ready to welcome its public again

With a few minor exceptions, the Mon-Repos swimming pool is a bit like the Porsche 911. Or Levi’s 501 jeans. The years go by – 50 for municipal pools – but the essence of the object remains. The evolution is smooth, in continuity rather than through revolutions.

Also, users who, this Saturday, will take the road to Mon-Repos will have no trouble recognizing their “piscotte”, despite the eighteen months of transformation and renovation work. Around the pools, the changes are almost imperceptible. Those with an excellent memory will note that the control post and the circular shower near the bay windows are now adorned with earthenware tiles. Tiles that are reminiscent of those in the changing rooms, which have been completely renovated. But without throwing out everything that came before, we will come back to that.

180,000 entries each year

“The Mon-Repos swimming pool is probably the best-known and most popular sports facility in Lausanne,” declared Emilie Moeschler, municipal councillor responsible for the Sports and Social Cohesion Department, at the press conference organised this Wednesday for the reopening. Before the Vaudoise arena, Mon-Repos was the only indoor multi-pool swimming pool in the city.” Annually, the municipal authority recalled, the facility records around 180,000 entries, or an average of 600 per day.

This is not the first time that the Mon-Repos swimming pool, inaugurated in 1972, has undergone work. “During its fifty years of existence, it has been adapted, transformed and modernized several times to remain at the forefront of what is being done and should be done in this field,” boasted Emilie Moeschler.

The work was initially supposed to last nine months. In the end, the pool remained closed for eighteen months, due to the discovery of advanced corrosion of the reinforcements at the level of the slabs, which required a thorough cleaning of the structure and the creation of a new waterproofing of the floors. The sanitary system (filtration, etc.) was completely replaced; The existing toilets, showers and changing rooms have been modified and are now universal; 24 new cabins were created; and a lift for people with reduced mobility as well as a mobile lift to access the pools were installed.

What about the cost of the work? “In 2022, we requested a construction credit of 3.1 million francs for the replacement of the sanitary system and the changing rooms, says Emilie Moeschler. An additional 1.65 million was then requested for the sanitation and waterproofing work.” For a total budget, accepted, of 4.75 million francs.

“We have sought to facilitate the use of the infrastructure and adapt it to current needs,” stressed Emilie Moeschler. “For example, the cabins are wider and allow parents to change more easily with their children. For those who wish, cabins allow them to shower in complete privacy. These changes also facilitate maintenance and supervision for staff.”

Universal locker rooms

The path to access the changing rooms – universal, there is no longer any separation between men and women – to the pools has also been redesigned. From the cash desk floor, you go down the first staircase or, for people with reduced mobility, by the elevator accessible by means of a eurokey (a key that allows disabled people to access facilities). You then go through an automatic access gate, then enter a cabin – where you change and take off your shoes – from which you come out on the locker side. All of which are equipped with integrated padlocks (each user can choose their own code). From there, you go to the showers – and toilets – and finally to the bathing areas.

The Shape architecture firm was commissioned to carry out the transformation and renovation work at Mon-Repos. “For the changing rooms, the goal was to make them more airy and bright, by improving hygiene, safety and accessibility for everyone,” says Steve Cherpillod, the architect responsible for the project. “We kept what was there, we weren’t going to throw everything away to transform it, especially since there were some really quality things.” Mon-Repos regulars will recognize the mahogany elements in the changing rooms – benches, dressing tables – from yesteryear, barely revisited and combined with blue and beige earthenware tiles.

This weekend, Mon-Repos is back with its public. And to celebrate, on Saturday, September 21, entry – from 1:30 p.m. – will even be free.

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