Eyburg is a 45,000-inhabitant neighborhood currently being created on six artificial islands on Lake Ey. Now only 16,000 people live there, so it is important to attract new residents there. One way to do this is to develop leisure and sports infrastructure there, which is why a beach in Bleiburg aan Zee has been created, and since 2008, the Eyburg Tennis Club has been operating, a free and open organization with 10 clay courts and a sports school. The number of its members is in the thousands, but the club still did not have its own building (this role was played by a temporary building).
Designed by MVRDV, The Couch is designed to fill this gap, with the new building serving as both a club and stands, and an observation deck overlooking the lake. In keeping with an important idea of accessibility for customers and architects, it is not just for tennis enthusiasts. Anyone can have a good time there - have a snack, meet friends or just relax by the water. The authors of the project compare it with a piece of urban furniture or a “city living room”.
Changing rooms, bathrooms, kitchen, storage rooms are located at the ends of the elongated volume of the building 36 m long, and in the center is the main multifunctional space. In the center, on the outside, thanks to the soft bend of the form, stands are arranged, facing south - to the courts. On this side, the glazing area is minimal - to protect the interior from the heat of the sun, but from the north, The Couch received a panoramic window that allows you to admire the waters of Hey.
The concrete structure of the building is covered with EPDM synthetic rubber on the outside, imitating the surface of a clay court in color and texture, and inside it is sheathed with wood. The total area of the building is 322 m2, its stands can accommodate about 200 spectators.
