Multidisciplinary architecture practice MD41 has completed a new gymnasium as part of a pinkish concrete school complex in Merate, Italy. 

Named Palestra Di Merate I Scholastic Gym In Merate, the 800-square-metre building is situated in "a pure and extremely simple volume" on the top of the building. 

Acting as a natural part of the school, the gym consists of a unique single floor on a 1,300-square-metre plot. The building aims to be a visible landmark in the school complex, which emerges as an extremely simple volume.

The façade with linear elements wraps the upper part of the volume, creating a hidden view and arousing curiosity about the activities inside.

Aiming giving a character to the whole school center, the main design goal was to thus determine a new identity through a contemporary architecture, contributing to the production of an expressive and figurative capacity for a new architectural quality.

"The site, with its features, makes the project a hinge role between the interior and the exterior, establishing visual relationships through a large window in the southwest side, ensuring connections with the school and extra-school activities, through the arrangement of the green area present in the west side," said MD41. 

"The new gymnasium was intended to be a landmark for the school complex, appearing as a pure and extremely simple volume, where sports’ areas and closed functions are located and clearly defined," the firm added.

Site plan

Floor plan

Elevations

Venice-based multidisciplinary studio MD41, founded by Fabrizio Michielon and Sergio d and Gioia, specializes in large-scale projects starting from industrial and multipurpose buildings for both public and private clients and municipalities. 

Project facts

Project name: Palestra Di Merate I Scholastic Gym In Merate

Architects: MD41

Location: Merate, Italy

Client: Merate Municipality

Size: 800m2

Completion date: January 2024

All images © Marcello Mariana. 

All drawings © MD41.

> via MD41

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