ZABALOETXE FRONTON
DESARROLLA’S TEAMS COMPLETE THE RENOVATION OF THE ZABALOETXE FRONTÓN IN LOIU, A PROJECT THAT MODERNISES THE SPORTS FACILITY
The renovation of the Frontón de Zabaloetxe has meant far more than a functional upgrade of a sports facility: it is a strategic architectural intervention that strengthens its role as the civic and social heart of Loiu. Located next to the Town Hall and the Cultural Center, the building has evolved over time from an open-air fronton into a complex for public uses. The current intervention carried out by the teams at Desarrolla Obras y Servicios consolidates that transformation, giving it a contemporary, accessible and energy-efficient identity.The project focuses on refurbishing and extending the auxiliary volume of the Frontón de Zabaloetxe to house a new gym and changing rooms, maintaining its sporting use while reinforcing its urban integration. Far from being conceived as a sum of isolated actions, the work articulates a holistic vision in which architecture, use and user experience advance in a coherent way.The result is a facility that gains presence, clearer access routes and enhanced spatial quality.
Functional reorganization
One of the key aspects has been the functional reorganization of the building. The changing rooms are located on the ground floor, serving both the fronton and the gym, while the upper floor houses the sports rooms. This layout enhances the logic of uses and allows the entrance and lobby to become a true transition space between the city and sport.The architectural proposal designed by Atelier80 Arquitectos makes the most of the complex topography and the different existing levels to generate spaces with rich heights and visual connections.Particularly important is the interior connection with the fronton, treated almost like an additional façade. Strategic openings enable cross-views between the court, the staircase, and the gym rooms, bringing dynamism and a unified perception of the whole. The Frontón de Zabaloetxe is now experienced as a system of interrelated spaces, rather than as independent parts.Inside, the gym is organized into two complementary areas: a double-height space designed for aerobic activities and another, more versatile and divisible, capable of adapting to different sports formats. This flexibility responds to a clear idea: to offer a facility ready to evolve with the needs of the municipality, while always maintaining comfort and environmental quality.
BIOCLIMATIC DESIGN
The intervention also incorporates bioclimatic design criteria and a substantial improvement of the building envelope, combining passive and active strategies to optimize the building’s energy performance. New openings, enhanced thermal insulation, and durable construction solutions help transform the Frontón de Zabaloetxe into a benchmark for sustainability at the local scale.Taken as a whole, the reforma del Frontón de Zabaloetxe redefines its urban and social role. It is not only about modernizing a building, but about strengthening a place of gathering, activity, and belonging, where architecture supports and enhances everyday life in Loiu.Visit us at the Bilbao headquarters.
