In 1968, following the poor performance of French swimmers at the Olympic Games, the Ministry of Youth and Sports launched a "1000 pools" design contest. The purpose of this contest was to industrialize the building of swimming pools. Several projects have been selected and between 600 and 700 pools will be created. The Sunflower type swimming pool will be erected in 183 locations (out of 250 planned) between 1979 and 1984.
Bernard Schoeller won the first prize.
Two types were planned: one with a pool of 50 meters and another of 25 meters. The components of the pool were prefabricated. The dome, 6 meters high, could be opened at 120 ° to let the sun shine in during summer. This allowed to have both an indoor swimming-pool in winter and an outdoor swimming-pool in summer.
While the architect named its idea after a flower (sunflower), this type of swimming pool looks like more a spaceship with its futurist-kitch shape.
The pools today :
This industrialized pool project was one of the last run by the government. Townships took their independence regarding local facilities in 1982-1986.
In charge of the maintenance of their collective equipment, townships had to handle the fast degradation of this type of pool.
Some towns decided to maintain them, some others prefered to demolish their pool.
A handful of Sunflower Pools have been classified, some are still in activity. The others have been demolished or like those presented here: in a state of abandonment.
The needs related to swimming pools have changed since 1980s : people is now preferring nautical centers, which are offering various activities rather than a single pool.
