The new sports hall for Sint-Maartencollege and Gymnasium Novum in Voorburg features a distinctive design. Its curved façades clad in Platowood Spruce, arranged in a refined rhythm of slats and beams, give the building a soft and natural character.
Please note: this project was completed with an outdated version of the Natural finish. Curious about our new colours? Order a free sample!
Architect Robin Gringhuis, Slangen+Koenis architecten:
“The sports hall is situated in a park with abundant greenery, which inspired the design of an all-sided pavilion that harmonizes with its surroundings. We focused on playing with transparency and using wood—wood that requires little maintenance. The lower part of the façade will be overgrown with vegetation. This approach gives the building a natural appearance while remaining maintenance-free. The use of Platowood Spruce was therefore a logical and fitting choice.”
The structure clearly distinguishes between the green, partially transparent base and the upper volume, which features vertical wooden slats that provide filtered light and limited sightlines. The outer shell of the upper volume follows the rounded contours of the base, resulting in a calm and cohesive look.
Entrances and access to the changing rooms are positioned along the street, encouraging interaction with the surrounding residential area. The greenery from the park flows into the sports flooring and hallways, creating a continuous visual and spatial connection. The choice of sustainable and low-maintenance materials, high-quality insulation, generous transparency, and compact volume all contribute to the realization of this BENG-certified (Nearly Energy Neutral) sports hall.
