Sports/City Hall, Bale

Photograph by Damir Fabijanic, Courtesy of 3LHD.

Project details

• Project Name: Sports/City Hall Bale
• Client: Bale Municipality
• Project Type: Sports hall and city hall
• Principal Designer/s: 3LHD
• Design Team: Sasa Begovic, Marko Dabrovic, Tatjana Grozdanic Begovic, Silvije Novak, Ljerka Vucic, Marin Mikelic
• Contractor/s: Tehnika d.d (main), Beton Lucko - RC prefabrication, M.P. PEMONT - Plumbing, ZM MONTAG - Steel construction, PIMCO - Skylight, TM - Electroinstallations, Stipic Interart - Ceilings, Elan, Level - Sport floors
• Date of commencement of project: 29 November 2005
• Date of completion of project: 15 April 2006
• Location of site: Domenico Cernecca 3, Bale, Croatia
• Site Area: 3660 sqm
• Built-up Area: 984 sqm
• Cost of Construction/Execution: 7,5M Kn / 1,0M €

Photograph by Damir Fabijanic, Courtesy of 3LHD.

Bale (Valle in Italian) is a small place in Istria peninsula, Croatia with a largely agrarian population of 1000 people. The project for the new sports hall found itself in the midst of the rich historical, cultural and social Mediterranean context. Therefore, any new architectural intervention had to be respectful of the environment. The solution was found in interpreting the traditional ways of building using new technologies.

Photograph by Damir Fabijanic, Courtesy of 3LHD.

Photograph by Damir Fabijanic, Courtesy of 3LHD.

Inspiration for the structure was found in the small traditional stone hut - kažun, a small multifunctional building used as a shelter for shepherds that provides a cool environment in hot weather and insulation against the cold in 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 is 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 being a sports venue, it is used as a public facility for various social gatherings - from community meetings, trade fairs to watching the World Cup.

Photograph by Damir Fabijanic, Courtesy of 3LHD.

Photograph by Damir Fabijanic, Courtesy of 3LHD.

The size of the building is defined by the basketball playground and modified by additional facilities in the gallery - a fitness centre and a sauna. The low and small locker rooms act as a connection element to the school. This connection to the old school with the utility rooms is hidden underground.

Photograph by Damir Fabijanic, Courtesy of 3LHD.

Photograph by Damir Fabijanic, Courtesy of 3LHD.

The private and intimate character of the building is juxtaposed with its primary function as a public building, and its openness by glass fronts to the street.

The sports hall concept had to meet the design and construction time schedule of 11 months, which was possible only by using RC prefabricated elements. All the load-bearing and facade elements of the sports hall are made from prefabricated elements. Its integration into the environment is achieved by minimizing its size, blending in with the landscape, and by using local stone materials for facade surfacing.

Photograph by Damir Fabijanic, Courtesy of 3LHD.

Photograph by Damir Fabijanic, Courtesy of 3LHD.

Credits

• Text by 3LHD
• Photographs by Damir Fabijanic, courtesy of 3LHD
• Compiled and Edited by Varun M Ajani