It must be one of the most peculiar yet tranquil experiences one could have in the heart of Leeds.

Standing in the bottom of the now drained Leeds International Swimming Pool there's an incredible awe and peace. With a vast, high ceiling and light pouring in from huge windows it has all the ambience of a cathedral – and the overall effect is made all the more spine-tingling by the latest and last addition to the building.

Now taking pride of place in the heart of the vast hall is what can only be described as an installation.

Not quite functional, not quite a sculpture, not quite anything specifically. But The Accumulator (to use its official title) is unquestionably a breathtaking work of art.

German visionaries Bernd Truempler and Karsten Huneck are just two members of an international group known as the Office for Subversive Architecture.

Their aim is to take buildings and space and combine them with forms with spectacular results – a mantra which first attracted Leeds City Council to their work.

And since the pool is set to be knocked down in two months time they're not so much breathing new life into the 40-year-old construction as much as offering it one last triumphant gasp.

"It really is an amazing space." said Bernd. "When we heard it was a swimming pool we didn't know quite what to expect and we certainly didn't think it would have this much potential.

"But it is incredible. We both come from an architectural background so from that point of view we were amazed, it's just so vast, not at all the kind of buildings that get put up in this day and age."

Huneck said: "We didn't select the final design immediately but we did conceive it very quickly, somehow the space we had to work with, the use of the building and all these factors leant itself towards this form."

In typical European style it was delivered from Germany in a flat pack before being hung and fixed in just under a day.

The final installation is a feat of design and engineering. With a length of some 18 metres it starts as a square at the top of the main hall then tapers down into a tube, to create a funnel.

"The idea of a funnel shape just seemed to fit somehow." said Huneck. "Because of the use of water obviously but also because of the way it catches the light.

"Our final form was also, to some degree, dictated by economic restrictions. We had a limited budget, which can actually be a good thing because if you have too many ideas it's not helpful. This helped us make the final decision."

Bernd added: "We wanted to make it white and very pure looking because the place is actually very quiet and has an amazing tranquillity to it.

"Even though you are right on the edge of a busy, noisy road and on the edge of the city which only makes it seem all the more special somehow. It's definitely one of the most interesting and unusual places we've ever worked in."

Complementing the installation in the main hall will be the work of Leeds artist Pippa Hale whose installation, appropriately titled Pool, will see her take over the junior pool.

Her work is largely made up of projections chronicling people's experiences with water, ranging from them learning to swim to taking baths.

Both the spaces will be appropriately signposted and sealed off (to prevent any potential accidents), and a giant ramp will be built leading into the main swimming pool so visitors can enjoy the spectacle from every angle.

Interestingly, as continental as the Office of Subversive Architecture sound, they now find that UK cities like Leeds are increasingly interested in their work and open to artistic ideas.

Bernd said: "I know a lot of people think of Britain as a little sceptical about art but that's not been our experience at all.

"If you look at this sculpture a German might marvel at it as a piece of engineering, as a thing of perfection, but not necessarily as a work of art in its own right.

"But British people are willing to see it as a thing of beauty, as something to be experienced not measured, they really are very open minded and for that reason I think they'll genuinely enjoy this installation."

The exhibition opens on February 22 and goes on until March 23. Opening hours: noon-6pm on Thursdays and Fridays and noon-4pm on Saturdays and Sundays..