Steimle Architekten

Description

The new Markolfhalle building has revitalised the «social heart» of the Radolfzell district of Markelfingen, picturesquely situated on the northern shore of Untersee (Lake Constance). The powerful and contemporary timber-built multi-purpose hall is the centre of cultural community life for citizens, clubs and schools. As a multifunctional building, the hall with its one and a half sports fields and adjoining stage area fulfils the requirements of both sports use and an attractively designed event hall. Slightly elevated towards Radolfzeller Strasse, the main road running parallel to the lake, the hall marks the south-eastern entrance to the town, presenting itself confidently in its natural-looking wooden cladding. The central and defining characteristic of the project, both externally and internally, is its materiality. The vertically structured timber louvre façade gives the compact building a consistently homogeneous appearance from all four sides. Protected by the all-round, widely projecting filigree roof construction, the load-bearing structure can be read naturally from the façade. Inside the hall, the homogeneous appearance continues with the calm and uniform wooden surfaces. This clarity is reflected in the organisation of a logical spatial sequence of the various functional areas with short distances between them.