Lying along the northern breakwater at Scheveningen, the sports complex is a symbiosis of architecture and the coastal defence structure

Lying along the northern breakwater at Scheveningen, the sports complex is a symbiosis of architecture and the coastal defence structure, shaped by the wind, there to keep the water at bay.

The design is a sequel to the graduation report I wrote together with J. Pot. In it I explored the architecture, coastal defence, and climate change and its consequences in eight Dutch coastal tourist resorts. A key problem it foregrounded is that the dynamic occupation of coastal resorts during all four seasons bears no relation to architecture. This is partly brought about by the barrier erected by the breakwater. The report makes clear that superstorms - a combination of spring tide and a severe north-westerly storm - are the pre-eminent phenomenon our coastal defence system must be able to withstand.

The need to strengthen the weak links in the coastal defence at Scheveningen has led to a new urban plan for the boulevard designed by Manuel de Solà-Morales. In this design motorized traffic is degraded, with most of the boulevard reserved for pedestrians and cyclists. To my mind, Solà-Morales' design has not been fully thought through. Thus, for example, the slope of the dyke has been severely truncated and the node at the northern breakwater - the wavebreaker and the boulevard - is used for parking ends so that inevitably cars will come to dominate the boulevard. This 'unfinished' boulevard I regard as a challenge and a great site for a design.

As said, the sports complex is a symbiosis of architecture and coastal defence in which the wind, one of the two factors for a superstorm, is of great importance in terms of architecture, landscape and building performance. The warm summer breeze, the rustle of marram grass and the spray of sea water are experiences shaped by the wind. So the sensation, sound and movement of the wind are the experiences I have reflected in both the landscape and the architectural design. In the design the south-westerly wind, the most prevalent wind direction, is taken up by the massive slanting walls. The light north-easterly wind or 'summer breeze' is led along the slope of the dyke. The north-westerly wind, the most dangerous in terms of coastal defence, is taken up by the two design elements which converge as a pointed mass. This mass functions in severe north-westerly storms as a wavebreaker that leads the wind along the facade.

The sports complex on the Scheveningen boulevard responds to the dangers of climate change and supplements the sports practised in the vicinity. Sports which, like the dynamic of seaside resorts, are contingent on the seasons.

Place of education: TU Delft | Specialization: architecture | Tutors: Robert Nottrot, Andy van den Dobbelsteen, Huib Plomp