SPORTS HALL, CROATIA - architeria.eu

SPORTS HALL BALE

Bale (Valle in Italian) is a small village in Istria peninsula, Croatia with mostly agricultural
population of 1000 people. The project for the new sports hall has been faced with the
rich historical, cultural and social Mediterranean context. Therefore any new
architectural interpolation had to have a respectful approach to the environment.
The solution has been found in interpreting the traditional ways of building by new
technologies.

Inspiration for structure has been found in the small traditional stone hut - kažun, a small
multifunctional building used as a shelter for shepherds that provide a cool environment
in hot weather and insulating against the cold in the winter. Traditionally built without
any cement or mortar with carefully selected interlocking stones found on the site this
structure is a primitive example of prefabrication present in the Mediterranean since
the prehistoric times. The traditional local dry stone wall motif has been used as a
template/pattern for the whole surfacing of the sports hall.

On the other hand, being the second largest building after the church, the social
importance of the sports hall for the town community is considerable because, besides
as a sports venue, it is used as a public facility for various social gatherings, from
community meetings, trade fairs to watching World Cup. Actually, the size of the building
has been defined by the basketball playground and modified by additional facilities on
the gallery: a fitness centre and a sauna, while the low and small locker rooms are
planned as a connection element to the school. This connection to the old school with
the utility rooms is hidden underground. On the other hand, the private and intimate
character of the building is juxtaposed to the open public primary function of the building
and its openness by glass fronts to the street.

The sports hall concept has been made to meet the design and construction time
schedule of 11 months, which was possible only by using RC prefabricated elements.
All the bearing and façade elements of the sports hall have been made from
prefabricated elements.

> Project: Sports Hall Bale
> Author: 3LHD
> Project team: Saša Begović, Marko Dabrović, Tatjana Grozdanić Begović,
Silvije Novak, Ljerka Vučić, Marin Mikelić
> Location: Bale, Croatia
> Client: Bale municipality
> Seating capacity: 200
> Main sport/event: basketball, volleyball, futsal, community gatherings, trade fairs
> Construction start date: 29/11/2005
> Construction end date: 15/04/2006
> Site area: 3660 m2
> Built-up area: 984 m2
> Start of planning: 2005

Photographs by Damir Fabijanic