WE PLAY · SPORT + LEISURE · GERMANY

Colour-led wayfinding becomes part of the building.

An integrated colour and form system gives repeated spaces distinct identities, supports intuitive navigation and transforms the atmosphere of a concrete sports centre.

CLIENTCity of Backnang
LOCATIONBacknang, Germany
ENVIRONMENTPublic sports centre
SCOPEColour wayfinding + public art
Colourful geometric wall artwork at the We Play sports centre

THE CHALLENGE

Make repeated spaces easier to recognise and navigate.

The Murrtal-Arena is used by schools, sports teams and the wider community. Eight identical changing rooms and long concrete corridors made orientation difficult, while the building lacked a distinctive atmosphere.

The wayfinding response needed to work for people of different ages and levels of familiarity—without relying entirely on written information.

OUR RESPONSE

A simple system of colour, circles and movement.

We developed a visual language around the circle, derived from the ball and the movement of sport. Circle segments travel across walls, floors and ceilings, creating continuity throughout the building.

Each changing room has its own colour identity. The connecting corridors combine those colours, helping visitors recognise destinations and understand how the spaces relate to one another.

Pink and green colour identities along a corridor at We Play

VALUE FOR THE BUILDING

Functional orientation with a memorable identity.

The system makes similar spaces easier to distinguish while bringing energy and warmth to the raw concrete architecture. Art, identity and wayfinding operate as one coherent intervention.

01Differentiates repeated changing rooms
02Supports navigation through colour
03Creates continuity across the building
04Gives the sports centre a strong identity

OUR SCOPE

One system, developed across the architecture.

  • Spatial analysis + wayfinding strategy01
  • Colour palette + room identities02
  • Geometric artwork system03
  • Technical artwork + paint specifications04
  • Collaboration with client + decorating team05
Purple and orange geometric wayfinding around a staircase
Green and blue geometric landmarks in a stairwell
Blue illuminated corridor and circular landmark
Blue circular landmark at the end of a concrete corridor
Yellow circular forms identify a changing-room area
Purple circular forms identify another changing-room area
Orange circular forms colour-code a changing-room area
Pink circular forms give a changing-room area its visual identity
Blue circular forms identify a changing-room area

Project created by Petra and Nicole Kapitza, founders of COLOUR FORM SPACE. Photography © Max Feldhoff.

START A CONVERSATION

Could colour and form make your building easier to navigate?

Tell us about the environment you are planning or improving. We can explore an approach shaped around its architecture, users, programme and budget.

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