Sports Pavillon in Bassano del Grappa (Vlcenza)

TSPORT - Jan/Feb 2010

PalaBassano is a multipurpose sports center with a 40x20 m playing field that accommodates various sports activities such as rollerblade hockey five-a-side soccer, volleyball, artistic gymnastics, basketball and others. The design decisions were made to fundamentally satisfy several different needs. These decisions included expanding the space currently available because it was insufficient to meet the needs of the various sports associations; compensating for the shortage of sports facilities even outside the province to meet the large demands being made on theTown of Bassano del Grappa today; developing new multipurpose spaces equipped for training, competitions at various levels and sports events; compliance with current regulations in terms of safety, accessibility and usability; making the project flexible to respond to potential future needs.

The design idea, which dictated how the works were carried out, was based on the principles of functional architecture, i.e. simple and minimal. The exterior has the appearance of a solid element removed from the ground by the perimeter windows; the portico is the element that connects and gives access to the building and already reveals the noteworthy vertical loadbearing structures and roof of this building designed forsports and occasional cultural events and performances. The interior offers a multitude of elements that play with the spaces and light: large reticular beams made of steel painted white give a rhythm and harmony to the large curve of the roof sustained by 16 white concrete V-shaped pilasters having 22 modular loadbearing steel trusses. The athletes' bathrooms and those for the public occupy the space under the prefabricated stands.

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