new
opening
The Pods in Scunthorpe: five interconnecting domes
POD LIFE I
n the heart of Scunthorpe, The Pods Leisure Centre appears to have emerged fully formed from the ground. Designed to be at
one with its environment and as eco- friendly as possible, natural materials merge with futuristic hi-tech design to create a truly inspiring building. Built entirely for purpose, as part
of a broader rejuvenation project to revitalise Scunthorpe, the leisure centre opened in July 2011 and is located within the town’s Central Park, which has also recently received investment – a new children’s play area, a café, a refurbished fountain and an events area with an open-air amphitheatre. The Pods is formed of fi ve
interconnecting domes coated in an unusual range of materials including shingle, turf-like plants (green sedum), plastic, glass and metal. The domes house
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contributions from Yorkshire Forward and Sport England. “North Lincolnshire Council wanted
NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL HAS CREATED A GENUINELY GROUNDBREAKING, ECO-FRIENDLY FACILITY IN SCUNTHORPE. KAY GLOVER REPORTS
a large welcome area, a split-level gym, a six-court sports hall, two fi tness studios, a health suite, a 25m competition pool, a learner pool, a pool viewing platform for up to 150 people, a café with outdoor terrace and the Little Pea Pods crèche. A glazed dome entices you into
the building, and the interior curves and undulations lead you seamlessly through the other four pods to the gym, pools, café and out on to the lagoon terrace – an innovative open- plan design that has won an award from the Royal Institute of British Architects. Designed by Andrew Wright
Associates with S&P Architects, and then built and delivered by a consortium of experts including Bowmer and Kirkland construction (see information box, p40), the £21m leisure centre took 18 months to create and was funded by North Lincolnshire Council with
an iconic building for the new centre and this is exactly what it got. I think it was really courageous in its selection of Andrew Wright’s design,” says Ron Wallwork of S&P Architects, the leisure specialist architectural company that delivered the Andrew Wright Associates creation. “The building spans more than 5,000sq m without any supporting columns – the fi rst time, I believe, that this type of construction approach has been used for a leisure facility.” Cllr John Briggs, cabinet member
with responsibility for sport, leisure and culture at North Lincolnshire Council, adds: “Our aim was to provide a real focal point for sport and leisure. It has to be seen to be believed, but I’ve never seen a leisure centre like it. It’s unique in its concept and design and provides an impressive array of facilities to help people lead active lifestyles.”
eco-focus The centre’s gently domed and partly vegetated shell structures have been designed to fuse landscape and building, creating an experience that effectively extends the landscape – as well as provide a flowing, uninterrupted, enticing internal space. Briggs continues: “We’ve been sensitive to our environment, as
september 2011 © cybertrek 2011
PHOTO: KIPPA MATTHEWS
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