Starting Platforms at Delphi
Outside Actic Delphinenbadet at Magistratsvägen 55 A stand three starting platforms that evoke the world of competitive swimming. They were installed when the building was converted into a gym. Since then, they have become a playful and distinctive feature of the area.
Background of the artwork
When the building was completed in 1969, it included an indoor swimming pool. In 2008, the premises were partially renovated to accommodate a gym, while the pool remained. That year, the fitness chain Nautilus moved in, later becoming Actic. In connection with the renovation, AF Bostäder placed three starting platforms outside the entrance as a playful nod to the original swimming facilities. The idea was to extend the atmosphere of the pool into the public space and create a connection between inside and outside. The platforms remain in place today, serving as a reminder of the site’s history.
About the artwork
Starting platforms like these are normally found at swimming pools, used for diving and race starts. Here, they have taken on a new role. Relocated to a dry and unexpected context, they become a form of object art – everyday items removed from their original function and reimagined in a different setting. Their athletic design and solid metal construction suggest performance and movement, while their placement outside the gym adds a humorous and surprising element.
The original designer of the platforms is unknown. They may well have been a standard purchase rather than a commissioned artwork. Still, they have become a well-liked and playful part of the gym’s entrance and the outdoor environment at Delphi.