The new Rietwis sports facility includes sports and play areas as well as two timber structures containing the three-court hall and bistro. Blumer Lehmann lent its expertise as a timber specialist and was in charge of planning and constructing the sports hall and what is known as the Flexzone. Together with our ARGE partner firms, we also fitted the interior and exterior timber cladding for both buildings.
The sports facility forms part of the campus planned for the cantonal and vocational school in Wattwil. The sports hall can hold 1,200 spectators and is the new flagship building for the Rietwis school and leisure complex.
The parameters set by the client required the building to be certified with the label for Swiss wood. As a result, the interior finish and facade of the hall are made out of silver fir and ash from Toggenburg. BauBuche laminated timber was the main material used for the timber core. The appearance of the timber structure is reminiscent of a container whose lid is formed by the roof structure. The building is partially sunk into the ground and windows run all around the main space at ground level, ensuring good lighting and pleasant conditions in the hall.
The second structure – known as the Flexzone, with a bistro, the entrance to the lido and minigolf and a seating area – is a prefabricated timber build constructed to the Minergie standard, like the sports hall.