#85

"Discreet lightness" was the architect's request

13 February 2023

The Julius Hirsch Sports Centre in Fürth with expanded metal façade

Top-class sport has always been treasured in Fürth, the sixth largest city in Bavaria, and not only in football, but in many disciplines. It is quite fitting that a modern triple-field sports hall was opened some time ago that was named after the Jewish football player Julius Hirsch. The expanded metal used in the project is shown from its light and sporty side.

Expanded metal
rhomb 200x80x24
Aluminium
Material thickness 3.0 mm
Anodised colour aluminium

Simple installation of expanded metal

Triple-field sports hall - this sounds a little like "Turnvater Jahn", the German "father of gymnastics". In fact, the city of Fürth did not mess about and treated itself to a spacious sports centre: the premises comprise 8,500 square metres, in which a total of 14.5 million euros was invested. The money is well spent because apart, from top sport, great importance is also placed on club and school sport. But many years passed before Kattner Stahlbau GmbH from Oschatz was able to install the first expanded metal on the sports hall: The Mannheim-based architect Swen Brodkorb won the urban development competition back in 2001. Then further planning, drafts, discussions and more planning followed before the building could be constructed. In the end there were problems with the fire protection regulations for the elaborate roof design; the city council heaved a sigh of relief at the official inauguration of the hall: "There are also 4,000 metres of nerve fibres installed here." But not everyone showed their nerves: "We had no problems at all", says Heike Kattner from Kattner Stahlbau GmbH, looking back on the time on the construction site. This is probably because expanded metal is a particularly good material to process.

Good planning for the installation of expanded metal

"As usual we received the desired execution from the architect", says Heike Kattner. "In the next step we compiled our execution and construction plans. It can happen that this version has to be adapted slightly so that production and assembly also work well." In other words, it is like a football game: The trainer's strategy is one thing, what happens on the pitch is another. Nevertheless, it is necessary to implement the strategy as far as possible. "We also do this", adds Heike Kattner. "Where possible we measure everything exactly in order to be able to prefabricate cuts, edges and bore holes. Then we can work quickly on site when every plate is individually secured." What Heike Kattner does not say, but probably means: This good planning also makes it easier on your nerves when things get a bit hectic again on the construction site in other trades.

Expanded metal creates discreet lightness

At Kattner Stahlbau GmbH working quickly means: Two employees assembled all expanded metal plates in two and a half weeks. It's quite impressive, just like the overall result: "The architect wanted expanded metal in order to add a discreet lightness to the images of the stylized athletes", explains Heike Kattner. Because for the athletes the new hall should not only be a training and competition venue, but also feel like home. This is what the man whose name hangs over the hall stands for: He is an icon in the football club Spielvereinigung Greuther Fürth who met a tragic fate: The Jewish football player Julius "Juller" Hirsch brought Fürth the first German championship and played for the German national team. When the Nazis came to power, he was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau and killed there. Now the name of the sports centre honours the great athlete. There is also a commemorative plaque outside.

MEVACO as a long-term supplier of expanded metal and perforated sheet

For Kattner GmbH this job was one of many that the company executes throughout Germany in the public domain. Sports centres are one work environment, there are also schools, nurseries, hospitals and administration buildings. "MEVACO is often on board as a long-term supplier", says Heike Kattner, who is confident about the future of the craft business. Founded by Willy Kattner shortly after the end of World War 2, the third generation now works on site, and "the fourth generation is already on the way up". Everything is also just right from a technical perspective: It's all there in Oschatz from the fleet of vehicles, including a 33-metre-high crane superstructure, through to modern machines such as a plasma cutting system or folding press. "However, the most important thing is our well-qualified staff", says Heike Kattner. "They are the heart of the company."

Expanded metal for visual and protective reasons

Thus a traditional club like the Spielvereinigung Greuther Fürth has come full circle. Because a top performance is only achieved with a great deal of commitment, which also fits well with MEVACO expanded metal: "It is very popular with architects", says Heike Kattner ending our conversation: "Often for visual reasons for façades and casings, i.e. surrounding components with protective elements. The durability and simple processing are other compelling reasons." And this is how MEVACO also manages to make it time and again onto the list of top examples of architecture at home and abroad.