Czech architectural studio Grido architekti has designed a sports hall for the pupils of an elementary school in Řevnice in the Prague-West District of the Czech Republic. The hall’s form follows function aesthetic emphasizes practicality and simplicity, referencing the functionalism of 1930s Czech architecture.
The sports hall is situated on a former tennis court site, between a new school annex and a “Lidový dům” (a community center or cultural venue). It also serves as an after-school sports facility and is open to the entire community.
The hall is located within a close-packed and predominantly residential area of Řevnice. Grido architekti employed rounded corners to soften and reduce the physical impact of the building’s external mass, thereby minimizing its perceived volume.
The location of the building’s entrance is beneficial to the length of a connecting corridor, where changing rooms, a clubroom, and technical room are located. The entrance area has a wide set of bleachers from which the Brdy hills are visible. “The entrance to the hall from the street is defined by the placement of the service wing,” says Grido architekti. “This wing is positioned to the east of the hall to avoid obstructing the views from the lower-grade classrooms of the elementary school; at the same time, it pushes the hall further away from the school to meet hygiene standards.” The hall’s design also incorporates underground parking and additional facilities.
The large sports hall can be divided into three smaller gymnasiums using nets with opaque lower sections. Each gymnasium is equipped with its own seating and storage areas and is directly accessible via the corridor, minimizing disruption.
Basilica-style lighting is provided by upper skylights strategically placed around the perimeter at the same height as the roof truss. These skylights offer diffuse illumination, facilitated by exterior vertical louvres.
The sports hall’s hard-wearing, utilitarian interior makes use of materials such as concrete, wood, and glass. Solid wooden floorboards cover the hall floor and the walls and ceiling are lined with wooden slats, providing noise attenuation and improving acoustics.
Grido architekti wrapped the building’s exterior in white plaster, a pleasing and timeless finish that is a reference to the functionalism of 1930s Czech architecture. The choice of a large and bold typeface completes the Czech modernist aesthetic.
Built-up area: 2,000 square meters
Gross floor area: 3,600 square meters
Usable floor area: 3,400 square meters
Volume: 45 x 25 x 10 meters
