Hippocenter Arpitha

FAST VUT - Faculty of Civil Engineering, Brno University of Technology, Department of Architecture

Project idea

The main task was to design an equestrian centre with a lounge, a public sauna and a mini zoo on a sloped terrain near by a picturesque village of Podolí u Brna. My idea was to create a composition, that adapts to terrain, but does not affect the function and is fully barrier free. The form is based on simplicity and dynamism in synergy with the land, buildings are partially embedded and connected with ramps. I also fractured large planes of the facade and of the roof to make all complex look smaller. Large space in front of the main entry including the rooftop terrace can serve for public. The final expression is achieved by using raw materials such as exposed concrete, larch wood and glass.

Project description

Podolí u Brna is a small, while quick growing village on the outskirts of Brno. The site is located in the east part of cadastral territory next to an agricultural complex. Buildings are located in the middle-upper part of the land, on the edge where gradient becomes flatter. The eastern part is designed as a public space with a green rooftop terrace as a continuation of the terrain. The eastern part also includes a bus stop and a car parking. The southern part and the northern part of land will be occupied by paddocks.

The main raster of composition is derived from the agricultural complex nearby. The building complex is composed of a club building in the south, a riding hall in the middle and a stable and a hayloft in the north of the site. The club building is dynamically shaped, and the roof is used as a public space. It is oriented to the southern with a view to the town. The building of mini zoo with goats, hens and rabbits is next to the club building and copying its shape. The main entrance is accented by its form. The riding hall is a two-level building with the spectators’ tribune located higher than the riding arena. The upper buildings are using flatter terrain and are used for horse-breeding. The whole building appearance is unified using larch wood siding and concrete plinths.

Technical information

The club building is monolithic concrete structure cast in the formwork from insulation with an exposed concrete surface finish. It has a green roof. The main entrance is connected to the club building and it is made of concrete, steel columns and glass walls.

Bearing construction of the riding hall is made of glue laminated girders, which is covered by larch wood siding. The plinth is much higher on the northern side due to the difference of surrounding terrain. The riding hall has no thermal insulation and is illuminated by a combination of indirect lighting and artificial lighting to avoid the problem caused by the direct light to horses during the dressage.

The stable building and the hayloft are connected by a yard. Bearing construction of the stable is made of wooden skeleton, massive concrete plinths are needed due to the inner aggressive environment. The stable can accommodate 15 horses. Bearing construction of the hayloft is also made of glue laminated girders.