ribbed lime-green gateway and blue solar canopy reform municipal sports center in spain

lime-green ceramic facade creates a new gateway to EL POLI

The transformation of EL POLI by meii estudio gives La Unión’s municipal sports center in Murcia, Spain, a new architectural and energetic identity. The intervention at La Unión’s municipal sports center, locally known as EL POLI, is structured around two complementary elements that redefine a beloved local landmark, with a primary focus on both energy production and consumption. 

A vivid lime-green entrance creates a clear and welcoming gateway to the complex, while a folded photovoltaic canopy rises above the stands, its geometry shaped by the sun. Together, these two interventions generate renewable energy, improve comfort, and establish a bold new presence within La Unión’s distinctive mining landscape.

Serving as a welcoming gateway between the city and the sports complex, the renovated entrance building unifies essential programs, like changing rooms, offices, and the cafeteria, under a strong horizontal identity. Clad in a ventilated ceramic facade of vivid lime-green ribbed tiles, it contrasts with the local mining landscape. A fully foldable metal facade at its entrance dissolves the boundary between the town and the facilities, creating a versatile public threshold. The design team at meii estudio refers to these two elements as EL POLI Y LA PERGOLA.

all images ©meii estudio

LA PÉRGOLA folds photovoltaic panels into a dynamic canopy

The centrepiece of the project transforms a pure energy infrastructure into a striking architectural element. Designed by Murcia-based architectural practice meii estudio, to maximise solar energy production, its form is driven entirely by function: the optimal south-facing orientation and inclination of the photovoltaic panels, calculated precisely to the latitude of La Unión, generate a sequence of folded planes with a distinctive sawtooth profile.

Constructed using a robust three-dimensional steel structure and clad in blue metal sheeting, LA PÉRGOLA constantly shifts in appearance as natural light evolves. This creates a vibrant visual dialogue with the green ceramic entrance building while providing essential shade for the existing football stands.

Together, the lime-green entrance and the dynamic blue solar canopy succeed on multiple levels: they supply clean, renewable energy to the complex, improve user comfort, and forge a powerful new architectural identity for La Unión.

EL POLI is La Unión’s municipal sports center in Murcia, Spain

lime-green ribbed ceramic tiles clad the entrance building’s ventilated facade

LA PÉRGOLA rises above the existing football stands as a photovoltaic canopy

the canopy’s folded geometry is shaped by the optimal orientation of its solar panels

blue metal sheeting gives LA PÉRGOLA its changing visual character

a three-dimensional steel structure supports the photovoltaic canopy

LA PÉRGOLA provides shade for the existing football stands

the project combines energy production with improvements to user comfort

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project info:

name: EL POLI Y LA PERGOLA
architect: meii estudio | @meii_estudio

location: Murcia, Spain

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edited by: Christina Vergopoulou | designboom