Aquaticum Water Park in Debrecen

A three-dimensional water experience – a little oasis of wellness and sustainability – has rapidly come to fruition in the middle of the Great Forest of Debrecen, Hungary. The Aquaticum Water Park opened its doors in May 2020, and is the latest strand in a HF200bn (US$660m, €590m, £510m) transformation project for Debrecen, which is Hungary's second-largest city. There has already been the creation of a new cultural centre, stadium and sports pool, and the city's zoo and theme park are also to be redeveloped. However, the cuboid structures of the Aquaticum are already rising above the trees in the Great Forest (also known as Nagyerd). A three-dimensional water experience – a little oasis of wellness and sustainability – has rapidly come to fruition in the middle of the Great Forest of Debrecen, Hungary. The Aquaticum Water Park opened its doors in May 2020, and is the latest phase in an HF200bn (US$660m, €590m, £510m) transformation project for Debrecen, which is Hungary's second-largest city. A new cultural center, stadium and sports pool have already been built, while the city's zoo and theme park are also to be redeveloped. However, the cuboid structures of the Aquaticum are already rising above the trees in the Great Forest (also known as Nagyerd). Designed by Hungarian firm BORD Architectural Studio, the attraction – a combination of a spa, lido and waterpark – has a structure of cascading waterfalls (enclosed within glass walls to reduce noise), and laid out over multiple stories. The waterpark serves the local community as well as drawing tourists in, and has a capacity of 6,000 people per day. The park has adventure and sports pools, with each pool experience separated either by glass walls with water cascading down, or living walls, covered by plants. The largest of the pools is a 1,1602 m (12,5002 ft) adventure pool with a water cave, lazy river, a bar and four different types of slides. There are also training pools, a water polo pool and a diving pool with diving boards up to 4 m (13 ft) high. For a more relaxing time, there is a 12 m (40 ft) high sun deck with loungers, spas and entry to wood-clad waterslides, which were supplied by the Hungarian manufacturer Eleven. Debrecen Nagyerdei Strand has become the largest waterpark in the city with a total water area of 5,700 square meters and uses water from thermal wells.