Nieuwehorne sports centre: A steel facade that imitates the surrounding fields

Detailed information

Landscape like a patchwork

The design of the sports complex establishes a connection between the centre of Nieuwehorne and its surrounding landscape. The fields, like squares of various shades of green and of different sizes, are characteristic for this area, but cannot be perceived from the ground. Only the view from an airplane makes this patchwork visible, which is why the architects of the study, Strategie Architecten, decided to unveil this view to everyone – in the facades of this new sports centre.

Indoor and outdoor activities

The entrance to the complex is a brick volume that also houses the changing rooms and a youth centre with its rounded corners literally guiding people around the building. The functional and compact design of the building creates a clearly structured complex where it is easy to find one's way around.

The sports centre offers an indoor sports hall, a tennis club with courts, sport pitches, and a grass jogging track.

The relation between sports and the building, between indoor and outdoor activities, can be felt everywhere. Outdoor and indoor athletes use the same entrance that leads to the changing rooms. After excerising they meet again in the cafeteria on the first floor. It offers a beautiful view both of the indoor installations and the outdoor tennis courts and allows access to the stands on the inside and outside. This way, the cafeteria is the central connecting element between outside and inside - spectators of outdoor events like football or volleyball matches can easily get a coffee and continue watching the game.

The cafeteria and roof terrace are oriented southwest so spectators can enjoy the light and warmth of the sun. Thanks to the mainly glazed facades of the cafeteria, the sunshine provides heating in winter. In the summer, a sunshade ensures that it remains at a comfortable temperature. The sunshade also protects from the rain, so outdoor spectators stay dry during a game.

The main structure

The main structure of the building comprises a combination of steel and wood. The large, curved beams in the cafeteria and the sports hall are rolled wooden beams. The timber construction is not only sustainable, but also provides a pleasent, natural atmosphere. 

ArcelorMittal involvement: A building with long-lasting durability and minimal maintenance

The facades, roofing, and floors are highly insulated in order to keep the building's energy consumption as low as possible. The green, curved energy roof heats the sports hall, while two wind turbines provide additional energy for the complex. Movement sensors control light and ventilation in order to ensure that no energy is wasted. The steel and glass facade, the bricks, and the wooden beams enhance the design, but also provide a tamper-proof building with long-lasting durability and minimal maintenance.

The steel parts of the facade are made of undulating Frequence 25/115-9B and Frequence 18/76-13B steel sheets supplied by ArcelorMittal Construction Netherlands. They are coated with the corrosion resistant Hairultra coating in different shades of green, using the colours Tilia 4602, Reseda 4601, Malachite 4659, and Winebottle 4615.

Text: Strategie Architecten Oosterbeek & Constructalia