The XVI district of the capital has recovered a swimming pool that had been destroyed by fire

A project of symbolic significance has been completed in Rákosszentmihály, north-east Budapest: on the afternoon of 19 December, the Ferenc Konrád Swimming Pool, which burned down in early 2023, was officially reopened. The facility, named after the Olympic, world and European water polo champion, was renovated and expanded by a consortium led by Épkar Zrt. consortium, and was also expanded – the Magyar Építő Zrt. and CLH Kft. also participated in the work. The new designs were created by SNK Mérnökiroda.

The project, worth around HUF 2.2 billion gross, has been completed and a building with a useful floor area of 2,805 square metres has been handed over, including a new outdoor swimming pool. In addition, additional service areas have been added to the building, including a wellness area with an enlarged sauna area, where visitors can

• Finnish and infrared sauna,
• steam and ice cabin,
• adventure pool,
• shower with shower tray
• and a plunge pool.

New beach added to Rákosszentmihály

In addition, a new outdoor adventure pool with a children's pool and baby pool has been added, together with a beach. In addition, the slab, cladding and 133 windows and doors were replaced. The entire swimming pool area has been renovated, as have the changing rooms. The pool's mechanical system has also been renovated, solar panels have been installed, and a heat pump system will now provide hot water and heat regulation.

The power of community

„The power of the community, which can move mountains, is something we can be justifiably proud of here in the 16th district, as we have restored the Ferenc Konrád Swimming Pool – which suffered severe fire damage – in just under a year through hard work, and, indeed, taking advantage of the opportunity, we have even expanded it” – wrote Mayor Péter Kovács in a post published in connection with the handover Facebook post. He added that none of this would have been possible without the residents’ invaluable help.

As he said: "thanks to the public's cooperation, more than one percent of the HUF 2.2 billion investment was made up of donations from the residents of the XVIth district, so everyone can rightly feel the beautifully renovated building as their own."

"Sacrificial work by the contractor"

In this context, Péter Kovács thanked Kristóf Szzatmáry, Member of Parliament, who also attended and spoke at the inauguration, for not letting us down this time either, and thanks to his lobbying efforts the municipality managed to finance the investment entirely on its own.

The mayor concluded by emphasising that "thanks are due to the dedicated work of the Épkar Zrt. contractor, which would not have been possible without the design of the SNK Mérnökiroda, which reflects harmony of function and form".

In his speech at the inauguration, the Mayor also pointed out that the contractor had performed well, but the handover date had been delayed by the prolonged activities of some utility companies, which could not keep up with the pace dictated by the municipality.

The construction company was represented at the event by Project Director Viktor Vadlicsek, while the designer SNK Engineering Office was represented by Peter Sinka and the Ybl Prize winner László Benczúr, who designed the original swimming pool, also attended the ceremony. Also present and speaking was Attila Czuczor, Managing Director of Kft., the operator of the Kertvárosi Sport Facilities. The eponymous Olympian, who is a frequent visitor to the swimming pool, was represented at the event by his widow, Ilona Conrad. The rebuilt facility was also blessed by the church at the end of the ceremony.