c.f. moller: aarhus gymnastics and motor skills hall

åarhus gymnastics and motor skills hall in denmark by c.f. møller architects image courtesy of julian weyerscandinavian firm c.f. møller architects has completed a new addition to the åarhus gymnastics and trampoline hall in åarhus, denmark. the objective of the gymnastics and motor skills hall is to encourage children between the ages of 3 and 10 to develop all facets of their motor skills by creating a space that encourages exploration and exercise. different from most traditional gyms, the architects did not have to design around set parameters of court sizes and programs, but instead created a new type of gym that was open and engaging.

the most prominent feature of the gym hall is a sculptural climbing terrain called ‘the seashell’ that spans up the three-storey space, creating both spaces of activity above and beneath it. a lookout-tower made out of glass sits at the ceiling, providing a view of åarhus bay and the mols hills for those who are daring enough to climb up. no surface is off limits: the sloping roof of the existing building has been utilized as an indoor climbing wall. pegs, ladders, and enclosed steps scale up the walls, offering curious users different ways of moving around the space.

‘the shell’ image courtesy of poul nyholm image courtesy of poul nyholm

image courtesy of poul nyholm

image courtesy of julian weyer

climbing stairs image courtesy of julian weyer

image courtesy of julian weyer

image courtesy of julian weyer

image courtesy of julian weyer

‘kangaroo land’ image courtesy of julian weyer

image courtesy of julian weyer

from the outside, the addition looks like a concrete shell punctured with colour-blocked, irregular windows.

south elevation image courtesy of poul nyholm

north elevation image courtesy of poul nyholm

window detail image courtesy of poul nyholm

sketches

site plan

floor plan

section A-A

section B-B

north elevation

south elevation

east elevation

project info: client: VIK gymnastik engineering: moe & brødsgaard a/s size: 1600 m2 location: hvidkildevej, åarhus, denmark year: 2009-2010