Birkerød Sports & Leisure Centre, Danmark

Birkerød Sports & Leisure Centre 2008 schmidt hammer lassen architects The newly opened Birkerød Sports centre in Rudersdal Municipality, close to Copenhagen is a modern sports and culture complex that sets new standards in terms of both practicality and architecture. Fitness, yoga, team handball, concerts and other cultural events – all in a setting of one modern sculptural entity designed by schmidt hammer lassen architects. The façade’s long sweeping lines and striking sculptural roof contours evoke a sense of movement and activity – creating a direct link between the building’s design and its core function. Upon entering, the space appears bright, airy and open. The interiors are filled with natural light and transparency creates a sense of permeability and activity. Flexibility The sports and activity centre is a multifunctional structure. The new building includes a large multipurpose hall (2,300 m2) with enough space to accommodate two handball courts with accompanying mobile spectator stands, as well as a V.I.P. lounge. The centre also houses two smaller halls. This means the complex can accommodate major sporting events, concerts and other cultural events, but also be adapted for school sporting events and local sports initiatives requiring smaller, more intimate settings. The new centre is located in the midst of existing football pitches and the old public swimming baths, both of which have received a facelift, and now include a new grandstand for the football pitch and a full-scale remodelling of the public swimming baths which are now significantly larger. This bridges the gap between the existing sports and recreational facilities to create a more coherent offer for sports and cultural activities in Birkerød. A sports centre of the future The new centre represents a quantum leap from the typical Danish sports facilities typically characterised by large rectangular halls with laminated wood arches. Birkerød Sports centre is very different in terms of both flexibility and design. The aesthetics and design of Birkerød Sports centre are immediately distinctive – with its long curves it is a bold and beautiful sculptured focal point for the local community, combining sports, cultural and recreational activities in the Birkerød area. The series of façades are decorated by graphic artist Astrid Krog, Denmark. The black circles form interconnected patterns when the louvres are closed and daylight shines in through the oblong window sections. The façades were developed especially for this building project and have since been honoured by inclusion in the Danish Ministry of Culture’s Canon for Design and Craft Art. Birkerød Sports & Leisure Centre image / information from ING