Ka-We-De, Artificial ice rink and wave pool in Kirchenfeld, Switzerland
Ka-We-De is a recreational facility in the Kirchenfeld district of Bern, combining an outdoor pool that converts into an ice rink with a separate wave pool. The complex consists of several buildings arranged side by side, each designed to serve a different season.
The complex was designed in 1932 by architects Rudolf von Sinner and Hans Beyeler and completed by 1934. It was built during a period when Swiss cities were expanding their public leisure facilities.
The name Ka-We-De comes from the initials of the German words for cold, water, and steam, pointing to the original functions of the facility. Visitors today can see how the same infrastructure shifts from a swimming space to an ice rink depending on the season.
The site is in the Kirchenfeld district and easy to reach on foot from the city center. The accessible areas change depending on the season, so it is worth checking which part of the complex is open before visiting.
The wave pool is one of the oldest of its kind in Switzerland and was a technical novelty when it opened, drawing visitors from across the region. The waves are still produced mechanically, in a way that closely resembles the original system from the 1930s.
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