Architecture studio MD41 has completed a gymnasium for a school in Merate, Italy, housed in a cubic volume clad in textured concrete panels.
Replacing a former gymnasium on the same site, the building slots in between the school to the north and a sprawling brick piazza to the south created by local studio Archea Associati in 2010.
These existing elements, as well as heritage protections in the area, left a small and constrained site that MD41 sought to optimise with a clear and "rational" building.
MD41 has created a cuboid gymnasium for a school in Italy
"The resulting rational volume has allowed it to fit perfectly into the area and to optimise the construction system, dedicating the highest volume part to the playing field with its stands, and the lower part to other functions," the studio told Dezeen. "[It is] intended to be a landmark for the school complex, appearing as a pure and extremely simple volume, where sports areas and closed functions are located and clearly defined."
The building houses an indoor sports court with bathrooms and changing areas along its northern edge, open for use by both the school and the surrounding community.
The building is located between the school and a brick piazza
To connect the building with the surrounding landscape, its ground floor is wrapped by large windows that overlook an adjacent outdoor basketball court and exercise park.
Above, MD41 clad the building in concrete panels with a horizontal, ri...