As a public space for social activities, the building holds a special significance given that it is the largest structure in the town after the church. The project had to take into account the rich historical, cultural, and social Mediterranean context, which is why the interpolation had a special relationship with its surroundings. We found a solution by interpreting traditional construction methods through the use of modern technologies.
Project story: Prefabrication on the Bale Sports Hall
20. May 2025
The idea to prefabricate the façade arose from several factors. The project had a very short timeline for design and construction—only 11 months—which could only be achieved by using reinforced concrete (RC) prefabricated elements. Despite the contemporary construction method, we aimed to create a dialogue with local architectural traditions and the natural environment. Inspired by the traditional small stone shelter (kažun), which represents an archetypal form of prefabrication in the Mediterranean, as well as the traditional local motif of dry-stone walls, prefabricated concrete panels with stone cladding were created to combine the speed of construction with the aesthetics of local architecture.
The company Beton Lučko collaborated in the production of these panels, and the manufacturing process was quite specific. Pieces of local Istrian stone (split slate) were arranged in a mold placed on a vibrating table. The spaces between the stones were then filled with sand up to a height of 8 cm. After that, concrete was poured in, followed by a layer of thermal insulation (polystyrene), and finally a second layer of concrete. Once the panels had dried, they were rotated and the sand was washed out from the joints, giving the appearance of a traditional dry-stone wall. The outer surface of the wall was coated with a silicone water-repellent treatment for concrete. The prefabricated elements are vertical RC panels with a total thickness of 34 cm, attached to the roof and floor structures of the hall. Interestingly, thanks to the creativity of the workers, the pattern of stone placement was never repeated, making each panel unique and preventing any visual repetition in the overall impression.
This approach to small-scale prefabrication allowed the building to visually adapt to its surroundings in the sensitive environment of a small historic town, using local stone and mimicking traditional construction. The dense texture of the stone cladding gives the building a visual lightness. The roof is also clad in stone to evoke traditional stone roofs and to slow down water runoff. This innovative approach resulted in a hall that not only meets the community’s functional needs but also establishes a strong connection with local tradition, becoming an important site of community identity. The hall’s success is also affirmed by its first prize win in the sports category at the World Architecture Festival in 2008.
