Heart of the boathouse
The terrace makes up for what the new building lacks in openness when viewed from the outside. Its inward-facing lounge area blocks outside noises and conveys a sense of community. The surrounding timber facade reinforces the feeling of being on the open deck of a boat. Only the two cut-outs in the facade around the stairs open the view to the sea. The centre's different uses are organized around the terrace - the heart of the building. Each watersport club has its own rooms here, right next to each other. And all club members have access to the common fitness area. Workshops are held in the seminar rooms, and even local schools are welcome to use the facilities.
A spiral staircase leads athletes from the terrace to the central hall on the ground floor, where there is plenty of room for preparing and repairing boats. Daylight enters the space through two round cut-outs in the ceiling. The visual connection they create between the floors strengthens the sense of social cohesion between the guests and the athletes. While the sailboats and motorboats are docked on the water in front of the building, smaller sports boats are stored on the ground floor. The hall opens to the south, where the boats can be launched from the jetty.
Inspired by nautical tradition
The rhythmic pine wood facade recalls the craftsmanship of wooden boat building. The inwardly curved structure is articulated by regularly spaced vertical wooden posts. Its monopitch roof creates interior spaces with sloping ceilings that open towards the centre of the building, emphasizing the communal terrace.
To withstand harsh weather conditions, behind the wooden facade the structure up to the first floor is made of concrete and was poured in one go. The upper floor sits atop this in a timber frame construction. In the event of a storm, the elevated terrace can be closed off from the harbour by protective doors at both stairway exits, providing shelter from wind and water.
