Eindhoven Sports Complex

Project description

Demolition and reconstruction of the Eindhoven Sports Complex

An elegant identity at the heart of a wooded setting
We wanted to give great visibility to the entrance hall and the conviviality space from the public area, as it serves as the functional hub of our project. It is the central space from which each of the four functional areas of the project (Dojo, Table Tennis Hall, Strength Training Area, and Dance/Fitness Area) is accessed. The Japanese pine that crosses the entrance porch and the spiral staircase connecting the hall to the conviviality space contribute to this staging, subtly expressing the “zen” identity of the project: An identity that is both understated and elegant; An identity offering a strong interaction between the site’s wooded landscape and the sports activity areas; An identity that harmonizes the volumes; An identity shaped with natural, durable materials such as stone concrete, wood, and glass.

Staging of sports activities
A beige concrete plinth, reminiscent of the local stone color, extends in front of the strength training area with perforated wooden tiles, anchoring the building to its site while protecting the ground floor. Above, the transparency of the glazing allows for the staging of sports activities, while letting in northern natural light that provides optimal comfort for athletes by preventing glare. Through the glazing, false ceilings and acoustic wall coverings made of wooden tiles contribute to the architecture of the facades.

We continuously sought to link the wooded site with the building’s sports activities to address the dual challenge:

• To create views toward the wooded setting for the athletes
• To democratize sports activities by showcasing them in the public space.

Thus, the dance rooms and the strength training area open to the north onto Boulevard Eindhoven. The strength training area opens intermittently to the west, at ground level, onto the wooded garden. The table tennis hall opens intermittently at ground level on the east façade, visible from the boulevard, and widely on the upper part of the north façade.

The Dojo opens generously onto the Zen garden covered by its pergola, also benefiting from the distant view toward the large trees to the west of the site. Finally, the hall and the conviviality space open generously to the north, toward the boulevard. The façade sections treated with a double skin of wooden tiles and glass on the north façade of the strength training area and the west façade of the dance hall will not only provide high-quality indirect natural lighting during the day, but also create a luminous buzz at night, contributing to the identity of the new sports complex and affirming its status as a public building.