Vevče Swimming Pool Complex, Ljubljana

Understanding the past is intertwined with revitalising the present. The renovation of the Vevče swimming pool complex has revived this social hub in Ljubljana and enabled a new story to unfold.sts between natural elements, a memorial has been created that preserves the narrative of life in the realm of remembrance.

The Ljubljanica is a river with seven names. Its rich Karst hinterland, stretching to Mount Snežnik, holds memories that the river sometimes hides and sometimes reveals. In Ljubljana, these are shown unabashedly, but in the Vevče area, the memory of the former swimming pool complex all but disappeared for a while. For many years, the complex used to be an important social hub, a gathering place for the workers of the Vevče Paper Mill, which began its business activities in 1842 under the auspices of the C.-kr. Privilegirana mehanična tovarna olja, papirja in barvanega lesa (Imperial-Royal Privileged Mechanical Factory for Oil, Paper and Dyed Wood), and was named after the nearby village of Vevče.

At its peak, the factory promoted the education of its workers by establishing the Industrial Paper School, provided accommodation for its employees and, of course, recreational areas, which also served as fire protection facilities.

“The Vevče Swimming Pool Complex was originally established to provide water in case of a fire in the paper mill, with the water reservoirs shaped like pools being the ideal solution. Three pools were built: an Olympic-size pool (50 x 22 metres), a smaller pool (12.5 x 33 metres) and a children’s pool. As reported in September 1947 by the Ljudska Pravica newspaper, the swimming pool for the children of workers and administrative staff of the Vevče Paper Mill, as well as the canteen, were built with the assets from the management fund. Excess water from the paper mill was used to heat the pools, and according to the newspaper the pool complex was quite popular when it came to organising various sports days and swimming courses, as well as for daily visitors.”[1]

To read the whole article, please order the copy of the magazine HERE.

[1] Saša Bojc, “A swimming pool complex that the people of Ljubljana have almost forgotten”, Delo, 20 September 2021, https://www.delo.si/magazin/zanimivosti/kopalisce-na-katerega-so-ljubljancani-ze-skoraj-pozabili.