Sports Centre Sligo

The conceptual design focuses on fostering connections between people, the landscape, and the spaces within the building. Two main volumes, housing a swimming pool and a basketball court, are separated by a tiered plaza designed to promote community interaction. This plaza not only serves as a gathering space but also provides multiple levels for viewing sports activities and the surrounding natural scenery. The design includes a multifunctional roof space, repurposing it for additional sports activities, thus maximising the building's usability and creating a vibrant community hub.

 The façade design process resulted in a structure that emulates the fluidity of the nearby river, with varying sizes and gaps in horizontal slats to achieve a natural, cohesive appearance. This thoughtful design approach ensures adequate natural light while maintaining a harmonious relationship with the landscape.

By examining precedents such as the RCR swimming pool and Herzog & de Meuron's Signal House, the thesis explored innovative façade designs that use horizontal strips and galvanised steel to soften building volumes, ensuring the structure blends seamlessly with its surroundings. The study of structural systems, particularly the use of glulam timber as seen in the Sargans Sports Centre and TUM Campus in Munich, underscored the importance of employing modern, adaptable materials in contemporary architecture.

Elevations

Sections

 Models

This architectural thesis investigated the design of a sports center in Sligo, emphasising the integration of natural and built environments. Initial research focused on Sligo's topography, characterised by its river, sea, and varied terrain, revealing a unique three-way structural variation in the town's landscape. This analysis highlighted the potential of utilizing these natural features in architectural design.

Site selection involved a detailed analysis of slopes and undulations, leading to a strategic location adjacent to an existing soccer pitch. This site allows for the building to be partially submerged into the landscape, creating a seamless integration with the natural terrain. The conceptual design envisions two main volumes for a swimming pool and basketball court, separated by a tiered plaza that fosters community interaction and provides vantage points for viewing sports activities and the surrounding landscape.

The design progresses by examining façade design inspired by precedents like the RCR swimming pool and Herzog & de Meuron's Signal House, exploring how horizontal strips and galvanized steel can soften building volumes and integrate them with their surroundings. The structural design also draws from contemporary examples, notably the glulam systems in the Sargans Sports Centre and TUM Campus in Munich, showcasing timber's aesthetic and sustainable benefits.

The final design includes innovative features such as a multifunctional roof space for additional sports activities, enhancing the building's usability and reducing its environmental footprint. The façade design, developed through iterative modeling, employs varying sizes and gaps in horizontal slats to achieve a natural, fluid appearance that harmonizes with the landscape.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1gxfr-kVWMYOdQnTLVenbf_wjkF-Myije?usp=sharing