NL Architects

Spordtgebouw

Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena

SPORDTGEBOUW

NL Architects

ARCHITECTS
NL Architects

LOCATION
Dordrecht, The Netherlands

PHOTOGRAPHS
Ralph Kämena

YEAR
2011 

CATEGORY
Recreation & Training

Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena

Spordtgebouw is a combined sports facility for three separate schools in the so-called ‘Leerpark’. Traditionally, individual schools have their individual gymnasiums.

Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena

But by combining the sports halls into one compound the quality of sports education can be improved. A higher degree of collectivity of course enhances complexity but sharing also creates added value.

It will for instance be possible to differentiate the halls and apply specific functions like a Dojo.

Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena

During the day the building is dedicated to the schools, but in the evening and weekends it is open to everybody. As such public money will be used publicly.

In order to reduce the impact on the surroundings the halls are stacked, the footprint is minimized. In total there are four smaller halls of 22 times 13 times 5.5 meter and two bigger halls of 22 x 28 meter.

Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena

With 7 meters headroom the main halls are slightly higher. The main halls can be divided in two. The building can accommodate eight different classes at the same time.

Since Sports halls are BIG boxes they tend to be clad in cheap materials, often corrugated steel. The Spordtgebouw however will be embedded in the new urban fabric of the Leerpark; the sides will be encapsulated by new buildings.

Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena

The design of the side facades becomes irrelevant. One facade remains crucial ‘though: it is facing the Boulevard.

In the leftover space between the most compact configuration of the halls and the site boundary a thin slab could be introduced containing an indoor climbing hall.

Adding this ‘cave’ increases the programmatic capacity of the building and its expression. Climbing is considered a helpful tool in the education of basic values of trust, responsibility and team spirit.

Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena

By applying a function to the elevation the obligatory ‘sports hall look’ could be avoided.

The expressive character is created by ‘slicing’ a standard climbing hall; the interior is exposed and becomes Logo!


Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena
Spordtgebouw
© Ralph Kämena


Spordtgebouw
Section
Spordtgebouw
Section
Spordtgebouw
Section
Spordtgebouw
Site Plan


Spordtgebouw
Diagram
Spordtgebouw
Diagram
Spordtgebouw
Diagram
Spordtgebouw
Diagram


Spordtgebouw
Detail
Spordtgebouw
Detail
Spordtgebouw
Floor Plan
Spordtgebouw
Detail


Spordtgebouw
Floor Plan
Spordtgebouw
Floor Plan
Spordtgebouw
Floor Plan

NL Architects
T +31 20 6207323 F +31 20 6386192
NL Architects
Van Hallstraat 294, 1051 HM Amsterdam, Netherlands