Rowing Center in Alange, Spain by José María Sánchez García

Article source: José María Sánchez García

The Rowing and Canoeing Centre is located near the Alange reservoir and tries to be as neutral as possible with the environment.  It is configured by a large pedestal and a light deck, creating between them a platform that dialogues with the landscape, looking over the water, the shore, the boats. It’s like a big veranda, a balcony, which focuses on the movements toward the reservoir, with paths that are created to “look” and to “stay”.

Images Courtesy Roland Halbe

• Architect: José María Sánchez García
• Project title: Rowing Center in Alange
• Location: Alange, Badajoz, Spain
• Construction: February2008 – September 2010
• Total floor area: 1959,81 m2
• Budget: 1.682.519,13 €
• Photographer: Roland Halbe

Images Courtesy Roland Halbe

• Team: Daniel González Guerrero, Julia Ternström, Enrique García-Margallo Solo de Zaldivar, Francisco Sánchez García, Marion Foucault, Cruz Calleja Perucho, Rafael Fernández Caparros, Maribel Torres Gómez, Laura Rojo Valdivielso, Marilo Sánchez García, Marta Cabezón López, Mafalda Ambrósio, Carmen Leticia Huerta.
• Structural engineer: María Concepción Pérez Gutiérrez
• Services engineer: ARO consultores
• Technical architect: Pedro Miranda, Fernando Benito Fernández Cabello
• Client: Consejería de los Jóvenes y del Deporte – Junta de Extremadura, Consejería de Cultura y Turismo – Junta de Extremadura
• Building firm: Procondal

Images Courtesy Roland Halbe

Over the platform, light metal trusses that spans over a large room of 21mx21m are constructed, holding the ramp that hangs from them. These trusses are covered to create a shady area.

The lower level emerges as raised platform, like a rock in which deep holes are drilled to introduce air and light, and that holds the more private needs of the program. The geometry of the building comes from the shape of the site and consists of a central hall that acts as a large classroom / workshop, and around this area, located in the perimeter bands, are the public toilets and changing rooms for athletes, the residence area and the offices.

Images Courtesy Roland Halbe

The relationship between the platform and the base is solved with a large-sized hole, a crack in the platform that acts as a crevice that allows the passage of light into the lower floor, and holds a slender two-section ramp that hangs with wires from the trusses, and that connects the lower floor with the platform, acquiring therefore a very important role in the project.

Images Courtesy Roland Halbe

Images Courtesy Roland Halbe

Images Courtesy Roland Halbe

3D Diagram

Access floor

Plan 01

Tags: Badajoz, Spain

Category: Public Landscapes

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