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Escalada : The Climbing Centre

Harvey Tolman - 2025

Tutor(s): Rosanna Jones

BA(Hons) Architecture - The University For The Creative Arts

This Climbing Centre is an innovative architectural project that reimagines how people of all abilities interact with the built environment through movement, community, and play. Designed as a fully inclusive facility, the centre uses climbing not only as a sport but as a universal language one that transcends physical limitations and unites users through shared challenge, exploration, and achievement.

At the heart of the design is the idea of movement as architecture. Circulation is not a secondary consideration but the central concept: visitors move around, across, and through the building in unconventional ways. Climbing walls and climbing boulders are seamlessly woven into the architectural framework, encouraging users to choose their own path based on ability, interest, and confidence. Whether ascending a wall to reach the next floor or boulder, every journey through the centre is an active experience.

Accessibility is embedded at every level, with inclusive design strategies that support mobility aids, adaptive climbing gear, and varied cognitive needs. The structure’s transparency, achieved through glazing and open circulation, creates a sense of shared experience, where climbing becomes both a personal and collective act.

Beyond its recreational function, the centre also offers training and recovery facilities, while also having a café for relaxation and social experiences. It is a civic space that empowers individuals and strengthens social bonds through physical engagement and architectural openness. By redefining how people move through space Escalada : The Climbing Centre offers a bold new vision for inclusive, movement-focused design.

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