Donal Colfer Architects
The Sports Hall pavilion design concept developed as a reaction to the existing geometries within the Loreto Presentation Schools' grounds as well as using the system of routes to anchor the new pavilion into the existing site. It is strategically placed on the site to link the complex of buildings with the disparate sporting activities while working together with site boundaries to create parking and vehicular access while strengthening the connection between school an sporting activities by means of a promenade through the site. To encourage this informal relationship we have resurfaced this route.
Users of the hall are encouraged to approach from a northern direction and reach the main entrance via a covered, but open to the elements ramp where the activities in the main hall can be observed before arriving up to a raised viewing platform with views of the playing pitches and out over to Dalkey Island, the Irish Sea and south up towards Killiney and Dalkey Hills are framed by the structure and the floor plane giving the sense of an open sided room. From this framed compressed area the user moves into a double height reception area on first floor level which is connected through a vertical circulation system to the different aspects of the pavilion where visual connections between the different rooms/areas to the main hall are created for supervision as well as to engage the visitor with the pavilion while on the top floor where high level sea views can be enjoyed while using the Fitness room and Studio. Changing Rooms and storage spaces for the main hall are located on the Ground Floor which leads to the Hall.
Visitors to the sporting pavilion from the wider Dalkey community are encouraged to park on the edge of the grounds and approach the hall on foot. If the sports hall is closed for the weekend or late in the evening theses groups will have access to storage and changing facilities under the sheltered section of the promenade/walkway without having the enter the main building itself. From here they are free to use the existing hockey pitches as well as the new astro running track and the upgraded and relocated basketball courts.
The Sports Hall pavilion design concept developed as a reaction to the existing geometries within the Loreto Presentation Schools' grounds as well as using the system of routes to anchor the new pavilion into the existing site. It is strategically placed on the site to link the complex of buildings with the disparate sporting activities while working together with site boundaries to create parking and vehicular access while strengthening the connection between school an sporting activities by means of a promenade through the site. To encourage this informal relationship we have resurfaced this route.
Users of the hall are encouraged to approach from a northern direction and reach the main entrance via a covered, but open to the elements ramp where the activities in the main hall can be observed before arriving up to a raised viewing platform with views of the playing pitches and out over to Dalkey Island, the Irish Sea and south up towards Killiney and Dalkey Hills are framed by the structure and the floor plane giving the sense of an open sided room. From this framed compressed area the user moves into a double height reception area on first floor level which is connected through a vertical circulation system to the different aspects of the pavilion where visual connections between the different rooms/areas to the main hall are created for supervision as well as to engage the visitor with the pavilion while on the top floor where high level sea views can be enjoyed while using the Fitness room and Studio. Changing Rooms and storage spaces for the main hall are located on the Ground Floor which leads to the Hall.
Visitors to the sporting pavilion from the wider Dalkey community are encouraged to park on the edge of the grounds and approach the hall on foot. If the sports hall is closed for the weekend or late in the evening theses groups will have access to storage and changing facilities under the sheltered section of the promenade/walkway without having the enter the main building itself. From here they are free to use the existing hockey pitches as well as the new astro running track and the upgraded and relocated basketball courts.