Dartford Judo Club Building, United Kingdom

Dartford Borough Council asked the architectural practice to take an existing proposal for a brownfield site south of the Dartford River crossing, halve the cost, and deliver a completed, Olympic-standard building within one year.

This was an extremely challenging brief, and the finished building is the result of a programme of collaborative, intelligent design which sets new standards for innovation and cost efficiency.

SEIRYOKU ZENYO AND JITA KYOEI

From the outset, the design process was guided by two key principles of Judo – seiryoku zenyo (maximise efficiency) and jita kyoei (create mutual benefit).

The aim was to produce a building which is highly efficient in terms of construction, performance and maintenance.

The decision to develop all design solutions in accordance with these maxims imbued the building with the spirit of Judo, while ensuring that optimised efficiency was absolutely fundamental to the design process.

COMPOSITE CONSTRUCTION

The building is constructed from pre-fabricated composite panels. Although conventionally solid, here the panels are translucent, drawing glare-free daylight into the building while minimising lighting and heating costs.

Every detail of the building has been designed to work as hard as possible, enhancing people's experience of the building while ensuring that it is simple and efficient to run. For example, the stainless steel mesh descending from a projecting canopy at the building's main axis does not merely shade the glazed south-facing entrance; it also drains water off the sloping roof and references traditions in Japanese architecture.

In addition, the mesh terminates in slabs of chalk aggregated concrete which will erode as rainwater trickles down the screen; the sculptural chalk feature also serves as a teaching device which can be used to illustrate the Judo principle of softness overcoming hardness.

CHAMPIONS OF THE FUTURE

Dartford Judo Club has produced several Commonwealth and Olympic champions, and these facilities will consolidate the club's role as a centre of expertise and excellence.

It has been selected as the training base for the British Olympic Squad for the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, and has an equally important part to play in the broader regeneration of the Dartford area.

This building provides a much-needed civic focal point: it offers an inviting, relaxed and secure environment which encourages young people to experience sport and physical activity, while offering a programme of events tailored to attract a wide cross-section of the community.

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