The center of ball sports in České Budějovice is a bold symbiosis of modern architecture and a natural aesthetic. With the wooden roof as the dominant feature, it not only shelters all its many functions, but also creates a completely new form of sports dome, prompting and inspiring towards movement, interaction, and a shared lifestyle. The hall is designed with a welcoming atmosphere towards the public, while fluidly fitting in with the surrounding city.
The new ball sports center is a key feature in the revitalization of the exhibition center and the creation of a new city square. Together with three block houses, the center creates a contemporary unit, which elegantly combines sport, culture, and everyday life. The sports hall itself is set in a blanketing alley of trees, which creates a natural landscape, leading to the exhibition hall’s main gate
The center of ball sports will not only become the home base of a successful volleyball team but also provide a space for social and cultural functions – from concerts to conferences and exhibitions. The building was designed with emphasis on openness and a welcoming atmosphere, with monumental wooden arches creating the elegant illusion of a floating cupola.
The center excels through its maximum flexibility – retractable and moveable stands allow for a fast restructuring of the area based on the type of function being held, from sport matches to concerts and conferences. The multifunctional foyer can be connected to the playing field, or removed with its mobile features, thanks to which the hall can transform from a training arena to a social city square.
A part of the design is also a new entrance gate to the exhibition hall, which includes a parking building and an administrative building within the city’s newly cultivated area. The buildings have unified facades and are interconnected through arcades with commercial areas for stores, restaurants, and coffee shops. The dominant feature of the gate is a multimedia tunnel – a grandiose advertising surface, which also serves as a dignified entrance portal into the curated space.
The intended design connects architecture, nature, and a social lifestyle into one living organism. Every detail is thought out to support sustainability, openness and fluid incorporation into the city. The new center of ball games is not only a sports hall – it is a space that inspires, energizes the public space, and brings people joy from shared movement, culture, and socializing.
Competition: 2025
Client: the South Bohemian Region
Location.
Visualisation: 2DR
Award.
Authors Winy Maas, Declan Sharkey, Radek Lampa, Tomáš Kroužil
Contributors Gideon Maasland, Bob de Rijk, Patricia Moericke, Daniele Dalbosco, Bartosz Jan Tenenberg, Giovanni Pomati, Lucie Řeháková, Maxim Petricov, Michael Forward, Martina Leon, Harry Clark
