Under­groun­ding

Sagrera is attemp­ting to create a new urban iden­tity. The Camp del Ferro is supposed to help with this.

Given the large volume required by the func­tional brief (three sports courts) in rela­tion to the limited dimen­sions of the site and the high urban density of the area, it was decided to semi-under­ground much of the sports complex. The meti­cu­lous design in section of the buil­ding ensures good lighting, natural venti­la­tion, ease of access and safe evacua­tion even of the lower areas.

The diffe­rent layouts of the brick façades bring diffe­rent light into the inte­rior – and give the buil­ding volume and texture.

The cons­truc­tion system is based largely on brick, deli­bera­tely revi­si­ting the old facto­ries, warehouses and work­shops that are so nume­rous in the area. The cons­truc­tion and mate­ria­lity of the buil­ding consti­tute its formal expres­sion, its finish, with no added elements. The brick thereby has a high profile.

The low main­ten­ance bare brick façades alter­nate empty and full, opaque, trans­lu­cent and trans­pa­rent parts, and masonry units of diffe­rent formats and colours with the aim of ligh­tening the whole, giving the built volume a texture, a grain, a vibrant pixel­a­tion, while also adap­ting to the diffe­rent orien­ta­tions.

Two of the pitches are located in the base­ment, with the ancil­lary rooms and instal­la­tions in between. The third sports hall occu­pies the upper floor.

The above ground volume of the buil­ding is finished off by a roof of gently curving, inverted vaults that is inte­grated into the context, somehow suggesting the order and presence of the roofs of neigh­bou­ring warehouses. This curved-line finish helps to lighten the volume of the complex and consti­tutes part of ist formal expres­sion.

There are some good reasons that led to the LEED Gold certi­fi­ca­tion of Camp del Ferro.

Further intrinsic, deli­be­rate conse­quences of semi-under­groun­ding much of the complex are the direct gains obtained thanks to the increase of the complex’s thermal inertia by redu­cing its exposed surfaces.

The building’s energy effi­ci­ency begins with the volu­metric approach of the design. Subse­quently, a whole series of measures on a diffe­rent scale (solar protec­tion, cross venti­la­tion, natural lighting and the use of rene­wable ener­gies) reduces the energy needed for it to func­tion, earning the centre LEED Gold certi­fi­ca­tion.