RAPID RIVER

Outline of white-water centre design

The design is an architectural and constructional initiative for a prototype of a covered water sport complex for professional and recreational sportsmen and women. The building has been designed without a location and therefore serves as a model that can be applied at various locations in the Netherlands. The complex comprises three spatial components: the water landscape, the facilities building and the roofing. All three of these building elements have an individual architectural expression.

The water landscape is the ground floor in which all the water attractions are accommodated. This landscape is divided into two different atmospheres: 'adventure' and 'beach life'. The 'adventure' landscape comprises a white-water course (suitable for canoe and kayak among other things) and a canyoning course (combination of climbing, jumping, gliding, absailing and wading through water). The biggest attraction is the white-water course, which is divided into a long course for recreational use and a short course for experienced canoeists. The drop of both is equal, so the degree of difficulty varies. The users of the white-water course and the canyoning course wear protective clothing which means that this environment does not require the provision of air conditioning, in principle the outdoor climate prevails here. This is in contrast to the 'beach life' side. Here the attractions are accommodated in an area with an indoor swimming-pool climate. Users are nearly always scantily dressed in this area. The 'beach life' landscape has a surf wave (artificial wave), a skimboard course (artificial current) and a kids' lazy river (mini white-water course). All the water attractions on either side are functional and their spatial qualities are forged together into a distinct landscape by a single material (concrete) in one colour (blue).

In this water landscape, between the two climate zones, stands the building with the dry facilities such as the entrance, and the catering, classrooms and conference facilities. These areas have a normal indoor climate. The organisation of the building stems from a logical succession of programme components and from all these areas guests have a view of the water landscape. The roof terrace has a good view of the white-water courses and is the ideal place to watch competitions. In the material application the timber building refers to both a beach pavilion and a chalet. In this way the building forms a link between the various cultures in the complex.

The water landscape and the facilities building are enveloped by a serially-constructed, transparent dome. The steel load-bearing structure is also used for the high rope course. Façades and roof are covered with transparent synthetic sheets whereby, in the daytime, the water landscape receives as much natural daylight as possible. By staggering the broad-roof construction for each bay, an unbroken sculptural roof landscape is created.