Sporthalle Kepler- und Humboldt-Gymnasium | h4a Architects

Architecture, Gymnasium + Spa, Sports Buildings

Sporthalle Kepler- und Humboldt-Gymnasium

Due to the prestigious integration into the urban planning, the sports hall forms a prelude or final point in the school campus. An important design criterion was the harmonic integration of the building into the neighborhood – according to the dimensions as well as the color interpretation inspired by the surrounding facade materials.

For that, the 18 m high cubic building is covered by a structure of brilliant white shiny aluminum fins in vertical order and slightly rotated. Particularly the 232 belts serve as sun protection for the rooms behind, but by the different light rotation of the fins also selectively directs the light into the inner space.

Depending on the usage, the facade appears from massive and closed to light and open. Focused insights in the gym area provide relations to the interior and make the building transparent. According to the perspective and the incidence of light, the facade appears from massive and closed to light an open. The permeability of the shell varies and the compactness of the building dissolves.

photograph by © Zooey Braun

Three single gyms are “stacked“ on each other, whereby the undermost gym is lowered in the ground halfway, on the same level as the adjacent consisting gym. The three-story sports hall is accessible by a stairway sculpture in the overlapping airspace, guiding the athletes to the changing rooms and the gym areas in the upper floors. Galleries on the gyms’ half level enable the view from the airspace to the athletic hustle in the sports field.

Also, the interior design is very spacious and robust. Clarity, openness, suitability and functionality mark this architecture. The used materials are modest, calm, cautious and of high quality – exposed concrete, white lacquered surfaces, wooden windows and wall panels. Color concepts for the interior and floor covering differ by storeys and support orientation.