In our series discovering the most beautiful stables in the world our next stop brings us to Austria. Reitarena Stubai has one of the most amazing indoor arenas in the world. Built into the hillside, the sloped roof blends in with the landscape and is completely sheltered from the wind and sun, whilst still letting in an abundance of light.
It is striking how the architects succeeded in keeping the support structure of the roof very 'light' and at the same moment warm. Mainy by the use of wood, which is not the easiest material for covering such a length. In order to establish a large enough flat surface area for the equestrian facility, the pre-existing slope has been divided into several terraces. These terraces provide the necessary surface area required by each independent structure, such as the indoor riding arena, the stables, the open space, the kids club, the operator’s apartment, and subsequently trail away into the open country.
The indoor riding arena is designed in the area of conflict between industrial building and landscape. Using level differences, a light wooden roof structure with profiled sheeting spans the area. While on one side the area itself defines a natural spatial closure, on the opposite side the roof is visually stretched as a necessary wind screen to the terrain edge. This wind screen is realised as a textile membrane without substructure and offers the rider a view over the Stubai mountain region. Between membrane and the wooden ring fence enclosing the riding arena, a gallery establishes above the landscape, which serves as an environment and grandstand. Further structures, such as the operator’s apartment and the kids club ‘Cavallino’, are placed as wooden forms underneath this roof top, and shape the rear of the arena.
Through this holistic approach, with a figure in the landscape, wooden forms resembling barns as well as a uniting roof which adapts to the terrain slope, the whole construction fits harmonically and naturally into the landscape.
