New public swimming pool to replace fire-damaged facility in Tórshavn

A completely new public swimming pool will be built in Mylnugøta in Tórshavn, replacing the facility destroyed by fire in November 2024, the city council announced Monday.

Construction is expected to take about a year, according to officials. The original pool, dating from the 1950s, had been closed since the blaze, with demolition and site preparation delayed by insurance assessments and structural concerns. Testing revealed the concrete-reinforced building was in critically poor condition even before the fire.

Authorities opted for full reconstruction rather than repairs, relocating the new facility slightly closer to the SEV transformer station on the same street. The design will expand capacity and improve accessibility, including a planned elevator tower from the grass area in front of city hall. Traffic flow from Vágsbotnur and Tórsgøta will also be reassessed as part of the project.

A man was charged with arson in connection with the 2024 fire; the case remains under prosecution.