Founded on accessibility, this modern, multifunctional facility will attract visitors from all over Italy
Designed by Milan studio Vittorio Grassi Architects, which won a design competition held by the local government, Lamezia Terme’s new Palazzetto dello Sport is about to open.
The sports center, now complete and commissioned, is set to become not only an important hub for sports people and local sports associations but also for Calabria as a whole.
Conceived as a multifunctional center, the facility will attract visitors from all over Calabria and southern Italy. Its strategic location on Strada Statale 280 dei Due Mari, near the train station, airport, and the A3 Salerno–Reggio Calabria highway, makes the center easy to reach, including for out-of-town visitors.
Occupying a five-hectare site, the center has approximately 8000 m2 of floorspace and can accommodate up to 3500 spectators. This figure grows to 4300 for conferences and concerts with the addition of ground-level seating. A fundamental element of the design was functionality, including optimizing the seating arrangement, and providing separate access for athletes and spectators.
Special attention also went into the usability of spaces, especially in terms of accessibility, reflecting today’s huge emphasis on inclusion.
The lattice roof structure comprises thin steel elements and a triple-layered translucent exterior made up of 900 ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) pneumatic cushions, giving the structure an avant-garde appearance.
Able to capture the prevailing winds and provide dynamic lighting both day and night, the shape of the roof promotes natural ventilation.
Extensive glazing on the upper level lets the public see the activities going on inside while opening up views of the surrounding landscape. The dynamism of the structure is accentuated by its stairways and uninterrupted circular concourse, which optimize the circulation of spectators and access to emergency exits.
The design of the Palazzetto dello Sport combines innovation and dynamism in a social and community hub that’s accessible to all.
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Location: Lamezia Terme, Italy
Completion: 2024
Client: Municipality of Lamezia Terme
Architect: VGA Vittorio Grassi Architects
Design Team: Vittorio Grassi, Marco Aloisini, Chiara Domenici, Cédric Lodewickx, Lorenzo Bozzini, Valdo Canepa, Walter Battaglia, Slavko Milanovic, Marco Monti, Giorgio Veronelli, Francesca Gallina, Nebojsa Jakica, Arianna Trevisan
Main Contractor: Ferraro
Consultants
Local Architect: Annunziato Santoro
Structural, Plant Equipment, Fire Protection and Security: Ai Engineering
Photography by and courtesy of Vittorio Grassi Architects / Ferraro