Play is an essential feature of humanity, and sport formalizes this play in a social space. This series of courses is an examination of the spatial and architectural features of sport. 

Sport is a central aspect of our society, as it has been for millennia. Both the ancient Egyptians and Greeks afforded a prominent place to sport, and throughout history, it has provided a space for both participation and spectatorship. From the most casual of games to the cutthroat world of professional sports, it provides its participants with excitement, confrontation, competition and personal challenge. For the fall 2021 semester, the topic is tennis. 

Tennis has a long history, and one intimately connected to architecture. Its early form took place in the monasteries of France, in the 1300’s, and developed in the cloisters or courtyard, which has given us the concept of a ‘court’. These courts became enclosed areas dedicated exclusively to the sport, such as the court at Falkland Castle from 1539. Throughout the 17th century, indoor courts proliferated across Europe. By the end of the 19th century, the game underwent another innovation in the form of lawn tennis, which gives us the form of the sport we know today. 

This course is an exploration of the spatial and architectural features of tennis as a basis for designing tennis facilities today. Initial research will focus on spatio-historical case studies through models and drawing. The project task will be the design of a tennis facility in Oslo.