Ground-Breaking for New Brine Bathing Facility in Bad Rappenau

(eap) In Bad Rappenau in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, near Heilbronn, the symbolic ground-breaking ceremony for the new RappSoDie brine and leisure pool facility was recently held. After 56 years of operation, the town is replacing the former brine mineral bathing complex with a new facility as part of a comprehensive modernization project. The sauna paradise, which has been popular with visitors, will largely be retained and remain accessible to guests during the construction phase. Only the former “African Lounge” area in the sauna facility is set to be redesigned. A completely new addition to the pool complex’s offering will be a 25-meter swimming pool with a toddler area, aimed at families, schools and clubs. Swimming lessons are also planned to take place there in the future. In addition, the new facility will once again feature brine indoor and outdoor pools. As before, the leisure pool will be structurally connected to the sauna and the neighboring Saline1822 Hotel.

© 4a Architekten “This is the largest project in our town’s history for many decades,” said Mayor Sebastian Frei during the ground-breaking ceremony, referring to the construction project, which is expected to cost around 39.12 million euros. He continued, “But without the brine baths, Bad Rappenau would not have become what it is today; the baths are part of our identity.” The project is being supported financially by the state of Baden-Württemberg and KfW.

The design planning comes from the Stuttgart-based architectural firm 4a Architekten, whose concept focuses on sustainability. The new building has been planned as a timber-hybrid construction and is intended to combine durable materials with a resource-efficient construction method. In addition, the sustainability criteria of the state of Baden-Württemberg are being applied to the project – both during construction and in subsequent operation.

In future, guests will have access to a 25-metre pool, which will also be used for swimming lessons. © 4a Architketen Other project partners include Wolff & Müller (earth and structural works), Kurz und Fischer GmbH (building physics), schlaich bergmann partner (structural engineering), Planungsgruppe VA GmbH (technical building services) and Jetter Landschaftsarchitekten (landscape design). The construction period is expected to last around two years, with an opening scheduled for the first half of 2028. ■