ARCHITECTURAL FOCUS
Inside , the journey unfolds from the café , where a dark-toned interior frames an unobstructed view of the surrounding nature . Moving towards the sports facilities , visitors pass through a deep blue , cavelike space that separates the outside world from the interiors carved into the rock . In the spatial hierarchy , the public and main areas are defined by vibrant colours , while the support spaces are left in raw , grey concrete , reinforcing their utilitarian role .
The unique nature of the project , the complexities of underground construction and the unexpectedly difficult conditions caused by rock fractures called for recognition and a particular approach .
The tunnels of the former army depot were expanded to create a large , unified space inside the rock .
Now this void houses Hall 1 , which accommodates events for up to 2,500 visitors , and Hall 2 , which includes three fitness studios and a gym spread across two floors .
Changing rooms and technical facilities are centrally located on three levels . From the outset , a sense of community was one of the leading themes driving the design .
The project name Luola ( Finnish for “ cave ”) reflects the long history of underground spaces as places where people gather and engage in a variety of communal activities .
Architects : Architects Davidsson Tarkela www . arkdt . fi Photographs : Tuomas Uusheimo
PAGE 57 - ARCHETECH