Oasis dome given Grade II listing
The announcement comes from Historic England
The swimming pool dome at the Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon has been listed at Grade II by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on Historic England’s advice.
The Oasis Leisure Centre, designed by Peter Sargent of Gillinson, Barnett and Partners in 1974, opened on New Year’s Day, 1976. The swimming pool is one of the earliest example of the newly developed building type, which went on to gain huge popularity in the 1970s and ‘80s, marking the cultural shift from swimming for fitness to swimming for fun. Most early of the early examples of these buildings have now been lost to redevelopment.
"Architecturally-striking"
Historic England have described the building as "architecturally-striking and technically accomplished structure. Externally, it rises from a grassy bank, while internally, the aluminium spaceframe provides a dramatic setting for the pool and is well-suited to its use, having withstood the corrosive pool environment.
"While the glazing has been replaced, the architectural concept remains apparent. It was carefully planned by the architects to create a fun and attractive leisure space, and the key features of the concept survive, including the free-form lagoon pool with its sloping, beach-like approach, and the infrastructure for a tropical planting scheme. Its design remains synonymous with the early development of the leisure pool."
The listing has been limited to include only the domed pool. The dry-sports side of the building; the waterslides, their launch tower and splash pool; the linking entrance block; and the service structures are not included in the listing.
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What's next for the Oasis?
While existing proposals have been put forward, Seven Capital will now need to get specific consent to work on the building.
After GLL said it would not re-open the Centre in November 2020, the firm relinquished legal responsibility for managing it. SevenCapital subsequently reassumed the reigns.
The property investment business is seven years into a 99-year lease with Swindon Borough Council - the local authority currently owns the Oasis land.
To mark the Oasis anniversary, SevenCapital revealed it has submitted new plans to the Council for a "revived Oasis".
Historic England say they will support Swindon Borough Council and the owner to address the condition of the building and to find a sustainable future use.