Collider Activity Center Competition Entry | Radionica Arhitekture

Collider Activity Center Competition Entry Radionica Arhitekture

Radionica Arhitekture unveiled their proposal of Collider Activity Center in Sofia. The proposal won one of the five first prizes. More images and architects’ description after the break.

Courtesy of Radionica Arhitekture

In the large fun park in the suburbs of Sofia we build a small artificial “mountain”. In it’s surroundings it is an “island mountain” or Uluru as Australian natives called the large lonely red stone in his desert. To the Aborigines Uluru is a holy place and they never climb on it. Our “island mountain”, let us call it Uluru 2 for the time being, has exactly the opposite function. It’s purpose is to be climbed constantly.

Therefore it has got a glass umbrella in order to be functional while heavy rain or snow falling. At night when the area under the umbrella is light upon by spotlights, this little mountain or big rock is transformed into a lighthouse visible from all over Sofia.

Courtesy of Radionica Arhitekture

But, this is still not a “meteor”, but a building. It’s three basic layers are open in front of us like when you are peeling off an onion. The first, outer layer is the “envelope”, the glass façade. That is the raincoat which protects climbers from extreme weather conditions like extreme cold or heat, rain, snow, strong wind and sun.

Here, people come to climb the building or just hang around on the terraces of the “stone roof” and watch others climb. The third, the inner layer is the “core”, composed of specialized spaces linked by elevators and stairs from the restaurant at the bottom to the bar on the top.

At certain places these assemblies bridge the hall and exit on the facade in order to allow the visitors or employees natural lighting, ventilation, or just a look outside.