Podčetrtek Sports Hall by Enota.

Emerging Slovenian architecture continues to catch our eye. Today, it’s via a public sports complex in the town of Podčetrtek by young Slovenian office Enota.

Click through to read about the project, which gives each visitor a chance to walk a “red carpet” to practice.

Podčetrtek is a small town, but also a growing one, and the design of the Sports Hall reflects that. The project is made up of a small entrance foyer and a large monolithic volume that will function as both a sports hall and a public meeting space and event hall. As such, Enota conceptualized the outdoor circulation between the two volumes as a “red carpet” for visitors to walk down. The resulting cut is a poetic moment in an otherwise very pragmatic design.

What do we mean? Explains the office, “Due to its size, which greatly exceeds the outlay of traditional constructions, it is impossible to look for similarities with indigenous surrounding architecture, but it seems logical to seek the design resemblances with larger facilities of the thermal complex.” Their comment makes us imagine what could have been (a giant sports complex in the shape of a vernacular timber frame house?!) and appreciate their discretion and realism.

The application of large, poppy flower icons to the metal cladding is another touch that Enota included to transform the monolithic structure something of a public magnet. At night, the shapes illuminate to cast a warm glow on the square-like space at the entrance.

For more details on the Podčetrtek Sports Hall, view the Architizer project page, and  for more information on the architects Enota, click here.

by Nicholas Solakian

posted in editor's pick

tagged editor's pick, Enota, Podčetrtek Sports Hall, slovenia, sports

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