What municipalities have to know: report on Day 2 of the 25th IAKS Congress

2017 IOC IPC IAKS Architecture Prizes: Exemplary community sports and leisure facilities

The second congress day started with a session on some of the winning projects of the 2017 IAKS IOC IPC Architecture Prizes. The presentations were moderated by jury member and Accessibility Consultant Mark Todd.

Steffan Robel, Managing Director of A24 Landschaft Landscape Architecture, presented the Kohlelager Landau recreational facility, a Gold-winning project. Given changing sporting preferences, sports facilities must offer greater flexibility and more opportunity for individual sports so that all generations can benefit from what is on offer. The Kohlelager facility is distinguished by its integration of traditional and new sports. The former military barracks site offers a combination of nature, sporting facilities and concrete installations. Sport and play are intertwined. Physical activity is encouraged and children in particular are motivated to take up competitive sport through playful interaction.

Anastaciia Tcyganova, Gold medallist of the 2017 IAKS IOC IPC Architecture and Design Award for Students and Young Professionals, presented her Saratov Velodrome design study. She emphasised the needs of different types of cyclists as well as artistic and functional design and the possibility of combined use by incorporating a great deal of research in her design study. The Saratov velodrome is designed to encourage residents and tourists to improve their sporting skills and to adopt a healthy lifestyle.

Victors Jaunkalns, founder and owner of MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects, showcased the Branksome Hall Athletics & Wellness Centre in Toronto, a Silver-winning project. The large volume had to fit onto a tight buildable footprint responding to the 12-metre height restriction on the grounds of the private girls’ school. The hall was designed to allow transparency, use natural light and prevent glare as well.