A collaborative proposal by Erginoglu & Çalışlar and IND [Inter.National.Design] for a swimming pool under an inverted dome at an Istanbul primary school has been shortlisted for an award at this year's World Architecture Festival, which will take place in Singapore from 3-5 October (+ slideshow).

The architects proposed to partially embed the swimming pool in a grassy mound, with a reflective roof structure bulging down to meet it.

The grassy roof would blend in with the surrounding landscape while the upper dome's mirrored underside would reflect the greenery.

Three pools were proposed for inside the dome, while a star-shaped outdoor pool would also be placed alongside the main building.

The pool was intended to provide a striking entrance to the campus of Koç Primary School, which is run by the Vehbi Koç Foundatıon.

The swimming pool has been shortlisted for WAF's World Building of the Year Award but it will not now be built due to the school's budget constraints.

Here's some more text from the architects:

Considerably distant from the city centre, the Koç School sprawled across its property without a master plan over time and thus was faced with the consequences of this expansion. Envisaged as the focal point of the campus, the pool building is designed as a pacesetter for the quality of future buildings and thus strives to contribute towards the architectural development of the campus.

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As the first building to be perceived from the new entrance axis of the campus, the building also neighbors the existing outdoor sports areas. In order not to compete with the surrounding buildings in terms of height, the pool building is partly embedded in the ground and is connected to the landscape on all four sides with a green, sloped roof. While the inverted dome attached to the dome structure offers a green tribune area to the outdoor sports areas, it is simultaneously perceived as an art object that strengthens the landscape with its reflective exterior.

Click above for larger image

The design is distinct from the neighboring buildings particularly due to its strong expression. It has been conceived as the first building/object to be perceived upon entering the campus through the new junction at the school’s highway entrance, thus bringing an added value to the overall appearance of the campus.

Project Title: Vehbi Koç Foundatıon Koç Primary School Campus Indoor Swimming Pool
Client: Vehbi Koç Vakfı
Designers: Ecarch with IND [Inter.National.Design] Hasan Çalışlar, Kerem Erginoğlu, Arman Akdoğan, Felix Madrazo, Alvaro Novas, Hans Larsson, Bas van der Horst, Pablo Roquero, Antonio Goya, Miguel Martins
Status: Competition Project / Unbuilt
Location: Tuzla / İstanbul / Turkey
Project Date: 2011