Kursaal Piscina

The Kursaal Piscina in Ostia, Rome, is a renowned example of mid-20th-century Italian architecture, designed by Attilio Lapadula with significant structural contributions by Pier Luigi Nervi. The complex features a central pavilion with a restaurant, bar, and dance hall, flanked by green areas, tennis courts, and an Olympic-sized seawater pool. Nervi’s innovative use of prefabricated reinforced concrete elements, particularly the rhombus-shaped structural components, defines the ceiling of the main hall. The iconic diving platform, designed by Nervi, is a geometric marvel: a 10-meter-high structure with a circular design, stabilized by elements echoing the initial "K" of Kursaal, supporting stairs and four diving boards. The facility’s circular form and mushroom-shaped vaulted roof, supported by a single central pillar, became a symbol of post-war Italian modernity and economic revival.