Dissolving into Green

The sports center aims to blend in with the landscape by using materials with a green-grey color tone, resulting in a serene backdrop for its many different users

The sports center in Rotterdam is a building for and by its many and diverse users. The building comprises various functions such as a sports hall with gallery, a swimming pool, a multifunctional hall, a bar and a diversity of other communal functions. The interior and the landscape have also been designed by Koen van Velsen architects. The building was deliberately not designed as an icon but as a coming together of building, architecture, interior and landscape. This makes the sports center a "remarkable unremarkable" building.

SPORTS CENTRE MFC ROZENBURG, KOEN VAN VELSEN ARCHITECTS, Rotterdam, Netherlands, Rene De Wit
photographs: rené de wit
ground floor plan
first floor plan
roof plan
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The sports center has been situated in the transitional area between an existing residential quarter and a green recreational area. Within this context, the building marks the entry to the village Rozenburg. The centre has been carefully incorporated into the green surroundings. Despite the singular volume, every façade has an individual expression. The main functions of the building can be well read in the facades. The green facade brickwork was specifically developed for this project, links the center to the adjacent existing buildings and allows the sports center to dissolve into the green surroundings. The sports center is simple and straightforward in organization. The clear arrangement results in a navigable building for and by its many and diverse users.

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