Gymnasium and Sports Ground Gurmels

In this gym, which can be subdivided into three units and is used as a venue for school and club sports as well as cultural events, Webnet is used as an important functional and aesthetic element of interior design. Secured to the gym ceiling and to the upper portion of a longitudinal wall, it serves as a protective barrier to prevent damage to the lighting integrated into the wooden ceiling structure and to the sports equipment suspended from the ceiling. At the same time, it provides an unobtrusive but clearly visible aesthetic element that visually separates the gym’s interior from the overhead structure.

The incentive to use Webnet in Gurmels originated with the architects who were seeking a functional and attractive alternative to the conventional dropped ceiling solutions. In close cooperation with the engineers and technicians at Jakob Rope Systems, they developed a customized solution for the gym. Planning revolved around two key factors: on the one hand, the choice of mesh aperture and mesh angle which were important for the interior appearance of the net, and on the other hand, the development of an aesthetically and functionally optimized system for attaching the net within the given architectural constellation of the building.

For aesthetic reasons, the architects in Gurmels opted for a relatively small mesh angle of 35° to emphasize the visual effect of the filigreed structure. For attaching the net, they chose a surround rope that is in turn connected to the structure of the building via retainers, the so-called primary construction. This consists of a number of standard elements as well as single parts individually adapted to the given structural situation. Despite their considerable own weight, it was possible to tension the approx. 500 m2 large net segments very tightly, resulting in a minimal, virtually imperceptible sag of 10-15 cm.

The factory-assembled nets were installed by Jakob Rope Systems specialists using only a few auxiliary ropes and two mobile scissor platforms. Because installation is quick and requires no expensive scaffolding, the builder benefits from Webnet’s considerable cost advantages compared to conventional ceiling installations. Hence, Webnet applications as the one completed in Gurmels will certainly attract a following in the near future.

Architect group Jean-Luc Grobéty, André Bächler & Alain Fidanza, Fribourg
Builder: Gurmels High School Association of Communities