Basecamp FCB
Until 2019, Club Brugge used the outdated Olympiasite, where functions were scattered across the site. To improve this, the club asked to design a new training complex that brings all functions together. The aim was to place staff, administration, players, and youth teams around the training fields, ensuring daily contact with the core activity: football. The complex is separate from the stadium to avoid disruptions from match days and commercial activities, allowing the team’s operations to continue uninterrupted.
The complex unites various functions such as locker rooms, medical spaces, offices, and a hotel in one building. The layout is simple, with short routes and clustered functions, following the ‘team around the team’ concept, enabling constant interaction between players and staff.
The building is organized into two flows: staff moves along the building’s length, while players move across it. Players enter from the north and proceed through locker rooms and transit areas to the fields on the south side. Public areas, like the reception and press room, are concentrated on the east side. The centrally located restaurant, with a terrace overlooking the training fields, serves as the main meeting point of the building.
The building reflects Club Brugge’s no-nonsense culture with honest, functional materials such as concrete, wood, steel, and glass. The wooden facade structure, set 1 meter away from the concrete structure, also acts as sun protection on the south side. The Flemish bond in the concrete blocks subtly symbolizes the development of players as they move through the building.
The design is built on clear sustainability principles: minimal material use, multifunctional materials, and an exposed structure that minimizes the need for extra finishes. Structural mass is used for thermal comfort, and the focus is on maximizing daylight, LED lighting, and air quality. The design follows a consistent grid that integrates technical systems like lighting and ventilation, creating a calm and harmonious environment. Reducing the use of additional materials is the project’s ultimate sustainability goal.