The design of the new school gym was developed on a 1,300 m² plot in the historic center of Merate (LC), with an 800 m² building on a single floor. The main objective was to give a distinctive character to the project’s integration, through contemporary architecture with strong expressive and symbolic impact, capable of fitting harmoniously into the limited space available between the existing structures.
Project Name: 167 Merate School Gym
Studio Name: MD41
Location: Merate (LC), Italy
Client: Merate Municipality
Destinazione d’uso: Palestra scolastica
Area: 1.300 m2
Building: 800 m
Timing: 2021-2024
Photos: Marcello Mariana
The site’s characteristics inspired the project to serve as a link between the interior and the exterior. The demolition of the previous gym cleared space for the new construction, which integrates perfectly between the comprehensive school and a green area, beneath which there is a large underground parking lot, hidden among recently built bastions.
The surrounding brick walls inspired the use of prefabricated panels in the design, echoing the horizontality of their texture. The landscaping of the green area and the basketball court to the west become key elements to foster interaction between the building and nature, making the boundary between the two fluid and permeable.
The building has two separate entrances to the north: one for the public, leading to the stands, and one for athletes, leading to the changing rooms and auxiliary spaces of the gym.
A large glass wall on the south-west side not only provides natural light to the interiors, but also establishes a visual connection with the adjacent park and extracurricular activities. The interiors, dominated by yellow tones and clean lines, are designed to emphasize the functionality of the building and visually distinguish it within the surrounding context.
