Mountain Sports Centre in Åndalsnes
- Claudia Fuchs
In the harbour of the small Norwegian community of Åndalsnes, an unusual building rises above the heterogeneous urban development. With its scuptural form, the new sports centre enters into a dialogue with the mountain ranges of the Romsdal Fjord. The structure has the abstract shape of a rock. This is reinforced by the aluminium outer skin in bronze and silver tones: the lighter-coloured metal sheets, increasing in number towards the top of the tower, suggest the snow-capped peaks of the surrounding mountains. With its 30-metre-high tower, this expressive building creates a landmark that is visible from afar. Situated between the railway station and the landing pier for cruise liners, it is an inviting destination for tourists and at the same time a meeting point for mountain enthusiasts from the region. With its unusual shape – consisting of a low-rise structure and the tower – the development accommodates a number of functions, including a visitors’ centre, offices and indoor climbing walls. The glazed foyer and restaurant area open on to a forecourt and terrace. On the introverted upper level are an interactive exhibition, describing the history of mountaineering in Norway, and a library. The heart of the building is formed by a large climbing hall with 60 different routes for beginners and experienced climbers. The sports centre has a steel structure, the low-rise tract with a steel skeleton-frame and the tower in the form of a trussed-steel construction. Both parts are clad with a homogeneous outer skin, consisting of 50 × 50 cm lapped aluminium sheets. Playfully integrated in the external wall are rhomboid window openings. A rapid assembly was facilitated by using prefabricated composite system-roof elements with spans of 16 m, as well as prefabricated hollow concrete slabs for the floors. Elaborate foundations were necessary in the harbour pool: the ground floor slab is supported by 92 reinforced concrete piles 20 m high. This new structure provides not only spaces for communication at the centre of Åndalsnes; it is also meant to promote mountain tourism in the region. Here, for example, tours of the surrounding area are presented.
