Architect(s): 3LHD
Address: Trg La Musa 3, BALE, Croatia
Latitude/Longitude: 45.039483,13.7868162
Photographs: Damir Fabijanić
Bale (Valle in Italian) is a small village in Istria peninsula of Croatia that has in majority an agricultural population of 1000 people. The project for the new sports hall was faced from the architects with the rich historical, cultural and social Mediterranean context. Therefore any new architectural interpolation was chosen to have a respectful approach to the environment. The solution has been found in interpreting the traditional ways of building by new technologies.
The structure had as an inspiration the small traditional stone hut – kažun, a small multifunctional building used as a shelter for shepherds that provide a cool environment in hot weather and insulating against the cold in the winter. Traditionally built without any cement or mortar with carefully selected interlocking stones found on the site this structure is a primitive example of prefabrication present in the Mediterranean since the prehistoric times. The whole surfacing of the sports hall used as a template/pattern the traditional local dry stone wall motif.
As it is the second largest building after the church, the social importance of the sports hall for the town community is quite important, as it is used as a public facility to host various social gatherings that range from community meetings and trade fairs to watching World Cup. Actually, the basketball playground is defined by the size of the building that is modified by additional facilities on the gallery. These include a fitness centre and a sauna and, at the same time, the low and small locker rooms are planned as a connection element to the school, between the old school and the utility rooms that is hidden underground. On the other hand, the private and intimate character of the building is juxtaposed to the open public primary function of the building and its openness by glass fronts to the street.
The sports hall concept was designed and constructed in 11 months, only by using RC prefabricated elements. In all the bearing and façade elements of the sports, prefabricated elements have been used.
Text description provided by the architects.
Project type: invited competition
Competition award: winner
Site area: 3660m²
Gross floor area: 1108m²
Volume: 6084m³
Footprint: 984m²
Entry level: 132.60m
Building costs: 7,5M Kn/1,0M €
Client: Bale municipality
Project team: Sasa Begovic, Marko Dabrovic, Tatjana Grozdanic Begovic, Silvije Novak, Ljerka Vucic, Marin Mikelic
General contractor: Tehnika d.d
Contributed by 3LHD
