The recreation centre occupies a 5,000-square-metre site on the shores of the Caspian Sea. It does not attempt to compete with the natural environment but instead forms a white and neutral volume 'reminiscent of a shell', with transparent spaces that defer to the presence of the sea. The upper floor contains a pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, gym and coffee shop; the lower floor has mechanical rooms, parking and storage. Materials were chosen for their lightness and resistance to humidity and sunlight. The structure is steel, though columns near wet zones are covered with concrete and zinc plate.
Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture
Ground floor area: 2,700 m²; combined floor area: 3,500 m²; total site area: 5,000 m²