After a fire destroyed the foyer of the gymnasium in Oberglatt, Switzerland, the city council asked for a new extension to the remaining parts of the building. The proposal by kit architects, which took the second prize in the competition, seamlessly connects to the existing structure, through program, space and form. Old and new dissolve into one, giving the building from the 70ties a distinct new identity. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The cross section of the old sports hall with its ridged roof is most characteristic. Its ridge and eaves are extended and transformed into a welcoming gesture for the entrance within four descending steps, incidentally creating a series of skylights. The front facade is triangulated and recessed to create a covered zone leading into the building.
On the inside, the organizational principal of the existing building is extended and reinterpreted to accommodate the new program elements. While the flanking solids contain service spaces and sports facilities, the centre space of the gymnasium is transformed to become the foyer. This multi-purpose space not only serves as an entrance, but can also be used for events in various configurations with the large space of the gymnasium and an exterior event space.
The materialization is also in support of the idea of creating a single new entity. The fiber-cement of the roof runs over the eaves to cover the flanks of the new volume, reinforcing the representative front door and the connection between the foyer and the public space in front of it.
Architects: kit Location: Oberglatt, Switzerland Landscape Design: noa Structural Engineering: WGG Schnetzer Puskas Ingenieure AG, Zurich Environmental Engineering: energieatelier, Zurich
