Two Sports Centers Boshuizerkade / René van Zuuk Architects

Architects: René van Zuuk Architects
Location: Leiden, South Holland, The Netherlands
Design: René van Zuuk
Design Team: Kersten Scheller, Peter Hagelaar, Wulf Oschwald, Javier Paz Taibo
Area: 1590 sqm
Year: 2009
Photographs: Courtesy of René van Zuuk Architects

The municipality of Leiden was looking to replace the old sports facilities in Leiden with a new complex which would separate the youth football association from the Leiden sports company. The position and footprint of the pavilions was predetermined by Buro Sant and Co who were responsible for the urban design.

Due to the wide variety of users it was important to strike a harmony in balance between the two pavilions. The first pavilion is dedicated to Football. With the changing rooms on the ground-floor and the canteen and office function on the first floor, the canteen has a stretched glass façade which focuses on the playing fields. On the other side of the canteen is another glass façade which connects the pavilion visually to the surrounding neighbourhood.

Interaction is more apparent in the second pavilion where there is a glass façade running alongside the street, this wall is also the dividing wall that separates it from the youth soccer association. At ground level the amenities are shared between the pavilions.