The Torretta district is a large urban campus where diverse yet complementary activities come together: education, culture, sports, research, and leisure, all set within an extensive public park. The new triple sports hall occupies a strategic position near the future pedestrian and cycle path that will link the school grounds with the wider green system.

The dual nature of its use—functioning as a school gym during the day and as a 1,500-seat sports arena during events—is resolved through the project’s main organizational strategy. A half-sunken underground level accommodates all service spaces, including changing rooms and storage areas, while the slightly elevated ground floor houses the atrium and the seating tiers. Although this solution requires significant excavation, the removed soil is reused to form artificial hills in the adjacent park, making the overall environmental impact far more sustainable than alternative options built entirely above ground.

The building’s wooden heart and aluminum skin merge tradition with innovation, warmth with technical precision. The natural tones of the timber structure contrast with the metallic cladding, underscoring the gym’s distinctive presence. Large glazed surfaces leave the structural wood partially visible from the outside, revealing the depth and material richness of the interior. This interplay of transparency, light, and contrasting materials gives the building a strong and recognizable identity.

Its public character is immediately evident: the lightweight envelope opens generously toward the city, inviting visitors in. Near the atrium, the façade folds inward to form a spacious portico that clearly marks the main entrance for spectators.

Inside, the atrium is bright and welcoming—a generous transitional space between outdoors and the sports hall. More than an entry point, it acts as a flexible, dynamic hub where visitors, students, and residents naturally cross paths. It serves as a gathering place for sports fans and a versatile venue for cultural events, talks, public meetings, and community activities.

The gym rests on a slightly raised podium that functions both as its architectural base and as a shared urban feature. This platform incorporates stepped seating that mirrors the indoor bleachers and doubles as an outdoor grandstand. Beyond event use, it offers an informal place to sit, meet, and socialize: a small public square open to all.

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STATUS: Competition entry (2025)

TEAM un-icon: Joana Azevedo & Matteo Missaglia, Anna Faltyn, Sofia Tarfanelli

LOCATION: Bellinzona (CH)

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER + FIRE CONSULTANT: Caprez Ingenieure

MEP ENGINEER: Studio Protec SA

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER: Piona engineering SA

ENVELOPE CONSULTANT: CSD Ingegneri SA

VISUALIZATION: Bisto + Unbuiltmatters