Low-energy sports hall Mengeš
(First prize in the open competition of Mengeš Municipality and the Chamber of Architecture and Spatial Planning of Slovenia (ZAPS); project and realization)
The construction of the sports hall concluded in 2020. Soon after, it was successfully put into the hands of the users.
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
The main entrance into the building is located on its northern side. It is defined by two offset walls and an access ramp.
From the entrance hall, where a ticket shop is located, there is direct access to the stands and basements.
At the basement level, there are, in addition to the main hall with three training spaces, also changing rooms for participants and referees, as well as technical rooms.
“The construction of a low-energy multi-purpose sports hall in Slovenia is a milestone in the development of energy-efficient public buildings.”
INTERIOR DESIGN
The interior of the building is characterized by materials such as wood, visible concrete, white plaster, and glass. Great attention was paid to the harmonious arrangement of the individual pieces of equipment which creates a restrained, yet elegant interior.
SITE PLAN
The intended location for the construction of the passive sports hall is directly next to Mengeš Primary School, on the site of the existing outdoor playgrounds.
To the east of the intended site of construction flows the river Pšata while the entire area is characterized by extensive green park-like and recreation areas.
It was this exceptional quality of the surroundings that was one of the main drivers in the placement of the building and the design of the hall itself.
The building "communicates" with the outer green surfaces through its glazed surfaces on the southern side and visually becomes an integral part of them.
The main access to sports hall is located on the northern side of the building where there is also the connection to the existing primary school.
CONSTRUCTION METHOD
The facility is designed as a bright cube, set in greenery that opens to the south, east and west. The northern part is reserved for the main entrance, which is defined by two offset walls. The connection between the hall and the elementary school was deliberately made with the underground connecting tract to preserve the maximum openness and transition of the outdoor space.
We were not only focused on energy efficiency, which was one of the main competition requirements but also wanted to prove a responsible approach to sustainable construction by selection of the materials. We chose wood as the primary structural material.
One of the critical challenges in the design of the facility was the implementation of the roof structure. Due to limited access, a maximum of 22m long elements can be brought to the location, while the span above the hall is approx. 38m. Together with structural engineers, the solution was found in the German joining system of wooden glued beams.
ENERGY EFFICIENT DESIGN AND SYSTEM INSTALATIONS
As mentioned at the beginning, the sports hall is designed as a passive building, which means that its primary heating needs are less than 15kWh/m2, which was also confirmed by the PHPP (Passive House Planning Package) calculation. A prerequisite for achieving such a result is the implementation of a high-quality thermal envelope. The slab foundation of the building is thus insulated with 55cm of foam glass, the outer walls with 35cm and the roof with 40cm of thermal insulation of cellulose flakes. All glass surfaces have triple glazing and adequate exterior shades to prevent overheating in the summer months.
The facility design calls for the installation of a central ventilation system with heat recovery, which is more than 85% efficient. Based on preliminary analyses, it was established that natural gas boilers in the nearby primary school are over-dimensioned, so it was economically justified to use their untapped potential to heat the gym. Low-temperature underfloor heating is provided throughout the building.
For the highest level of energy efficiency of the building, the installation of LED lights is planned throughout the facility, while a central control system is required for their management.
“A well-designed BIM model enables the model to be upgraded with relevant, agreed information to the Facility Management model.”
COMPLETED HALL UP-CLOSE
You can take a closer look at the completed hall in Elan's promotional videos, where it presents a scenic backdrop for aspiring young athletes.
