hofrichter-ritter sinks blue box sports hall in austria

hofrichter-ritter sinks blue box sports hall in austria
photography by christian schellander and karl heinz putz
all images courtesy of hofrichter-ritter architekten

in graz, austria, local practice hofrichter-ritter architekten has completed the extension of an existing school and sporting complex entitled ‘blue box’. ensuring that the addition does not overpower its surroundings, the nine meter hall is sunk four meters below ground, minimizing the height of the structure.

the project is an extension of an existing school and sporting complex

the façade of the building is clad in the same blue rubber coating as the sports area flooring establishing a continuity that connects both aspects of the design. northern light enters through a large wall of glazing that provides internal views towards the submerged gym floor with additional roof-lights positioned to help ventilate and illuminate the area below.

the public entrance to the sports hall is reached through an running track

in order to ensure that a division is maintained between school students and the general public, external users have access to the sports hall via a running track to the north of the site, while pupils and teachers have direct access from the existing building to only the changing rooms and sporting facilities.

the façade of the building is clad in the same blue rubber coating as the sports area flooring

the 9 meter hall is sunk 4 meters below ground, minimizing the height of the structure

additional roof-lights are positioned to help ventilate and illuminate the area below

view of the sports hall from the upper level

the hall can host a variety of sporting and recreational activities

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project info:

location: graz, austria
area: about 4,000 sqm (43,056 sqf)
completed: april 2014
client: bundesimmobilien GmbH
user: city of graz
architecture: hofrichter-ritter architects ZT GmbH, graz
design team: gernot ritter, veronika hofrichter-ritter, wolfgang reicht, franz stiegler-hameter
structural engeneering: peter mandl ZT GmbH, graz
tga: klauss/lps, kindberg
photography: christian schellander, karl heinz putz