Downtown Gym | kavakava

The Gym is located in a park (former bastion belt) which surrounds historical town center. It is addition to existing school house – old brick building from 19th century. Newcomer is facing towards the old building, between them cozy courtyard is formed. Gym is designed for children of three surrounding schools (one of the schools is for disabled kids). It is also publicly used at evenings and for competitions. A simple sculptural volume creates different dialogues with old building. At daytime gym's north facing glass facade is mirroring the old building, at night time it works as a big projector-lamp. Red brick is characteristic material for Pärnu likewise the closest neighbor building. For the gym wall we looked for new way of using the traditional material. Special angular pattern was used for brick walls to animate the surface. 365 small windows inside brick wall bring light in during day and out to park at night. In summertime when the trees around are green, the building disappears into the park, in winter-season it communicates more with surrounding cityscape.