Twentieth Century Society calls 1980s buildings a ‘masterpiece of engineering’
Heinz Isler’s Norwich Sports Village has been granted grade II-listed protection following an application from the Norwich Society and the Twentieth Century Society.
Completed in 1988, the sports complex in the Broadlands area of Norwich is the only example of Isler’s trademark concrete shell structures in the UK.
The complex consists of three main sports buildings topped with undulating concrete roofs, likened to “plumped pillows”, which appear to flow and ripple as if blowing the wind.
The tent-like shells are on average only 10cm thick, using an innovative engineering technique which Isler first used for the roof of the Hotel Kreuz in Langenthal in the mid-1950s.
Although around 1,000 of the shell roofs were constructed, Norwich Sports Village is the only example built in the UK.
The complex, which is currently operated as a David Lloyd sports club, includes an ice rink with three arched bays, a tennis court and sports hall building with six bays and a standalone swimming pool with a single square-shaped bay.
C20 director Catherine Croft said the buildings’ “graceful, tent-like canopies” are a “masterpiece of engineering”.
“These are unique structures in the UK and we’re delighted to see them recognised with national listing. Perhaps just as importantly, they’re still well used and serving their original purpose; to provide an elegant and practical shelter for the various activities beneath – a swim, trip to the gym, or a game of tennis,” Croft said.
Other examples of Isler’s roofs include the Deitingen Süd Motorway Service Station, built in 1968, and the Pavilion Sicli Cultural Centre in Geneva, built in 1969.
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