The Meterik football club, Trivia volleyball and the municipality of Horst aan de Maas decided to join and share the location at the Vonckel sports park. Lichtstad Architecten was asked to design this sports facility for indoor & outdoor sports, including the outdoor area. The location is in a beautiful green rural area of Horst aan de Maas where these clubs have plenty of space to develop their sporting wishes.
Sculpture among agriculture
In the agricultural area, greenhouses and open fields predominate. Prominent on one of these fields is the Speulhof sports centre: clearly presented but in harmony with nature. In response to the rural environment, Lichtstad Architecten was inspired by the rhythm and pure simplicity of the horticultural greenhouse. An integral design as the main form with a landscape of shed roofs that contributes to daylight and energy. Simplicity is clearly reflected in the design language, but the white facade finish makes it abstract. Amid the slope of the immediate surroundings, the architecture takes on a sculptural quality.
Maximum sports experience
Sports is about experience. To enhance this experience, visitors are immediately placed in the center of the indoor and outdoor athletes upon arrival. The central meeting room is located in the heart of the sports center, with a wide view of both the indoor sports hall and the football fields outside. The space gives access to a spacious terrace that is elevated together with the meeting room and connects to the lower ground level via grandstand steps. The visitor has the choice to experience the sport from above or directly from the sidelines.
Compact and functional
The changing and washing rooms for outdoor sports are located on the ground floor and have direct access from the football fields. Above are the changing and washing rooms for indoor sports. Each room section is directly accessible in the event of competitions or physical education. The supporting functions such as storage areas for indoor and outdoor sports, sanitary facilities, first aid and referee/teacher rooms are centrally located.
A green sports park
Sportcentrum de Speulhof consists of two football fields, a parking lot for cars, storage for bicycles, a halfpipe, a beach volleyball field and a sports course over a hilly landscape for running & BMIX. The main access to the sports park directly separates pedestrians, cyclists and cars from each other for a safe and orderly approach to the sports park. Existing trees have been integrated into the new green spaces between the parking areas.
Sustainable and future-proof
In the design of The Speulhof sports centre, particular attention has been paid to a sustainable passive design. The main shape of the building with its shed roofs made an integral contribution for optimal orientation of natural daylight in the sports hall, maximum spatial acoustics without additional measures and makes the building particularly cost-effective for south-facing solar panels. This makes the sports hall all-electric and completely self-sufficient in terms of electrical energy.
