Sporthalle Coppi-Gymnasium – Schulz und Schulz

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Sports Hall Coppi Gymnasium

A three-pitch sports hall is just that: a hall made of three identical sections. In this project we turned this incontrovertible reality into our overarching design theme.

The new build replaces an old 1930s sports hall that was destroyed by fire. The… — The new build replaces an old 1930s sports hall that was destroyed by fire. The new triple-pitch sports hall rises above the adjoining changing-rooms and ancillary facilities, which are housed in a single-storey block.

The glazed corridor running in front of the changing rooms and ancillary areas offers passers-by… — The glazed corridor running in front of the changing rooms and ancillary areas offers passers-by a lively “shop window” view of the building, while the taller sports hall itself is broken up by three segmental arch windows.

The segmental arch windows allow light into the sports hall on both of its long… — The segmental arch windows allow light into the sports hall on both of its long sides. Inside the load-bearing structure features the same curved shape as the windows. Instead of one interior space extending throughout the building, the sports hall – which is almost always partitioned by the curtains that hang between the arched beams – is divided into three separate sections.

The curved beams are underspanned with steel tie rods and suspended in the main beams… — The curved beams are underspanned with steel tie rods and suspended in the main beams that run between the arched windows, creating the sequence of three identical sections that gives the space its character.

Seen from the school playground, the squat shape of the sports hall is once again… — Seen from the school playground, the squat shape of the sports hall is once again broken up by three segmental arch windows and by the two emergency doors positioned between its three sections. The single-storey block connects the new sports hall with the old school building.

In the unlikely event that evacuation is required, jib doors lead directly outside from the… — In the unlikely event that evacuation is required, jib doors lead directly outside from the hall, which is located on the ground floor.

There are, of course, also three separate sets of toilets.