The new building acts as a gateway to the town emerging out of the surrounding earthworks that appear like some ancient fortifications. The roof draws a dynamic line leading your eye to the main entrance sequence. Approaching from main road you pass under the circuit that runs around the park and on under the great canopy. Coming from the other direction you see the viewing platform projecting up from the main building. This creates a kind of axis mundi for the park, a reference point for orientation. It will also satisfy the curiosity of those wondering what is happening on the roof - where the many of the environmental features are shown off.
The aim is to create a simple, compact plan - gross internal area of the building is 5250m2. The position of the main halls is fixed first with a tight fitting roof, dipping down over the pool hall as the land comes up to meet it at the rear. The sports hall is placed at the front of the building. It is made as open as possible becoming the centrepiece of the front elevation.
The open plan allows circulation around the playing area. Large folding doors in the main elevation can be opened in the summer for ventilation; the hall can also be used for non-sporting events Ancillary functions are arranged around the halls. For building planning purposes these can change during design development without affecting the main architectural concep