ARCHITECTURE - HONORABLE MENTION Project: CENTRO DEPORTIVO VALLE LAS CAÑAS EN POZUELO DE ALARCÓN Author: Frechilla&López-Peláez Architects
PROJECT MEMO
The concept behind constructing this building on this site was to create a building at the centre of a large garden-like area that would house open-air sports facilities. This single storey building is surrounded by shade provided by a screen that affords visual and weather protection to the windows behind it and is lifted up off the ground by a recessed plinth that varies in height to reflect the topography but that also uses it too as the relationship between the ground inside and outside the Pavilion requires. Other volumes appear out of the pavilion, set back relative to the plane of the screen, the size of which should not take away from the concept of the building as a single unit that groups together and accommodates within it the different parts of the whole. The building stands on the higher levels of the plot of land and has a parking area along its south east facing side, whilst the space along the north west facing side will accommodate the open air swimming pools, gardens that are still to be built and, possibly, additional open air sports facilities. There is a difference of 3.60m in the level of the land between the two facades, which has enabled the halls that need higher ceilings to be sited on the lower level next to the garden (-3.60m) and create the sense of a lower rise building from the entrance side (±0.00 m), which is on the higher land. The plan of the building is an elongated rectangle whose longer sides run parallel to a north-east/south-west orientation. This layout accommodates the various parts of the project whilst creating the links between them that were considered necessary. The centre is arranged in a linear sequence of four parts or buildings divided by expansion joints, whilst the vertical support is provided essentially by the two ±0.00 and -3.60m levels. The first part of the building houses the gymnasiums, above which is the Administration Area and below the general changing rooms. The second section houses the main entrance for the public along with more public-oriented facilities such as the Meeting Room and the Crêche on the mezzanine. Below this section is the Caldearium. The third building houses the swimming pool and catering area, spaces for the public, the kitchen, the office and the utility and machine rooms, which connect to the service road, loading bays and parking area outside. Lastly, the fourth building houses the Multi-Sports Hall and changing rooms, which take up the full height of the building, plus the various Clubs on the mezzanine floor. The four buildings are linked together and articulated lengthways by the Galleries, which are variously open but covered, or closed. In terms of its construction this volume is characterised by the ‘Mies’ style stainless steel high-tension mesh that covers the building’s outer roof and filters the light coming through and affords the occupants privacy. Inside, the floor has been laid with anthracite grey concrete tiles polished in situ and the walls and false ceilings clad with particleboard. The ceramic tiles, the flooring specific to each sporting activity and the skirting boards in the transit areas add colour and texture that provide a contrast that creates an identity for the different interiors. Ceramic materials have been abundantly used in the interior of the swimming pool block. The walls surrounding the covered pools have been clad on the inside with a mural made of shiny black vitreous ceramic tiles. The tubs and interior claddings in the Caldearium have been finished in the same material, but this time in matt white. The floor throughout this bahting area is made of anti-slip ceramic tiles of different sizes and with different textures, whilst the vertical walls in the changing room areas have been finished with small glazed stoneware ceramic slabs.
The concept behind constructing this building on this site was to create a building at the centre of a large garden-like area that would house open-air sports facilities. This single storey building is surrounded by shade provided by a screen that affords visual and weather protection to the windows behind it and is lifted up off the ground by a recessed plinth that varies in height to reflect the topography but that also uses it too as the relationship between the ground inside and outside the Pavilion requires.
Other volumes appear out of the pavilion, set back relative to the plane of the screen, the size of which should not take away from the concept of the building as a single unit that groups together and accommodates within it the different parts of the whole.
The building stands on the higher levels of the plot of land and has a parking area along its south east facing side, whilst the space along the north west facing side will accommodate the open air swimming pools, gardens that are still to be built and, possibly, additional open air sports facilities.
There is a difference of 3.60m in the level of the land between the two facades, which has enabled the halls that need higher ceilings to be sited on the lower level next to the garden (-3.60m) and create the sense of a lower rise building from the entrance side (±0.00 m), which is on the higher land.
The plan of the building is an elongated rectangle whose longer sides run parallel to a north-east/south-west orientation. This layout accommodates the various parts of the project whilst creating the links between them that were considered necessary.
The centre is arranged in a linear sequence of four parts or buildings divided by expansion joints, whilst the vertical support is provided essentially by the two ±0.00 and -3.60m levels.
The first part of the building houses the gymnasiums, above which is the Administration Area and below the general changing rooms. The second section houses the main entrance for the public along with more public-oriented facilities such as the Meeting Room and the Crêche on the mezzanine. Below this section is the Caldearium. The third building houses the swimming pool and catering area, spaces for the public, the kitchen, the office and the utility and machine rooms, which connect to the service road, loading bays and parking area outside. Lastly, the fourth building houses the Multi-Sports Hall and changing rooms, which take up the full height of the building, plus the various Clubs on the mezzanine floor.
The four buildings are linked together and articulated lengthways by the Galleries, which are variously open but covered, or closed.
In terms of its construction this volume is characterised by the ‘Mies’ style stainless steel high-tension mesh that covers the building’s outer roof and filters the light coming through and affords the occupants privacy. Inside, the floor has been laid with anthracite grey concrete tiles polished in situ and the walls and false ceilings clad with particleboard.
The ceramic tiles, the flooring specific to each sporting activity and the skirting boards in the transit areas add colour and texture that provide a contrast that creates an identity for the different interiors.
Ceramic materials have been abundantly used in the interior of the swimming pool block. The walls surrounding the covered pools have been clad on the inside with a mural made of shiny black vitreous ceramic tiles. The tubs and interior claddings in the Caldearium have been finished in the same material, but this time in matt white. The floor throughout this bahting area is made of anti-slip ceramic tiles of different sizes and with different textures, whilst the vertical walls in the changing room areas have been finished with small glazed stoneware ceramic slabs.