A previously underutilized area of land at a municipal school in Pforzheim has found new purpose as the site of a modern triple sports hall. The location proves inspired—the new building complements the historic, three-winged school structure that anchors the streetscape, framing it to the north with natural grace. Designed by Peter W. Schmidt Architects, the sports hall integrates seamlessly with the site's northward slope. Together with the all-weather play court, the daycare's open recreation areas, and the school yard, it creates a refined boundary to the perimeter block development.

The monolithic brick structure seamlessly extends the character of its surroundings. Bold openings define the southern main entrance and side entries on the western and northern facades. Expansive glazing along the east and west elevations flood the interior with natural light, while strategically positioned skylights—distributed across the roof plane—ensure even, diffused illumination throughout the hall. A living green roof transforms what would otherwise be an overlooked surface into a fifth facade, visible from both the school grounds and neighboring buildings alike.

The entrance foyer occupies the ground floor, facing south. Above it, the main hall spans the second level, its movable partition curtains allowing flexible division into three separate courts. Equipment rooms line the western side of each court. Wooden impact buffers clad the hall's interior walls throughout the playing zones, while a vibrant sports floor unifies the space. A spectator gallery runs the full length of the upper level. The design prioritizes universal accessibility—an elevator ensures every area of the hall is reachable by wheelchair, and the changing rooms and showers feature generous, inclusive layouts. The hall primarily serves the Nordstadtschule's athletics program and the Para-Sport-Club Pforzheim.

www.pws.eu

Photography:

Stefan Josef Müller
www.stefanjosefmueller.de

(Published in CUBE Stuttgart 04|23)