Disability Union Division
TEAM: Alessandro Ossola, Andrea Rolle – Italy – Studio Ossola, Architectural Association
Disability Union Division
The idea to design a multi-purpose sports facility, able to host Olympic and Paralympic athletes simultaneously, comes from reflection of the need to create a space where able-bodied and disabled can share values and experiences, overcoming social and cultural obstacles and architectural barriers.
It’s a space where the acceptance of diversity represents added value for the achievement of objectives, not only sporting goals.
The focus in on concepts of “division” and “union” in addition to reflecting the sporting values such as respect and healthy competition, which are key ingredients for continuous improvement.
The internal layout, excluding services and facilities, varies according to the real needs of sports disciplines, athletes with special needs, and if training and / or competitions are scheduled.
Through computational design, the total number of “modules” needed to meet demand is found. These modules have a standard dimension and they are distributed on the plan in relation with variables such as days of the week, users, disciplines and event typologies.
During competitions or big events, it is expected the presence of spectators, who watch the events from telescopic and retractable stands, making so the fully multifunctional system.