The Circolo Sestese Canoa Kayak, an amateur sports association founded in 1973 and affiliated with the Italian Canoe and Kayak Federation and CONI, plays an active role in the national competitive scene by training young athletes in the disciplines of sprint, long-distance, and marathon canoeing and kayaking. The design of the club’s new headquarters has created an integrated complex that combines sports and urban functions: a multipurpose hall, the club’s headquarters, a pedestrian path, and new recreational spaces.
A distinctive feature of the project is the concept of a unified “building-park” system, designed to enhance and differentiate the outdoor spaces, transforming the area—known as the Marna—into a new gathering hub for the city of Sesto Calende.
From an architectural standpoint, the building stands out for its striking opalescent envelope made of large neutral satin-finish PanelPiù 500/40 10PX multiwall polycarbonate panels, which lend the structure a sense of lightness and modernity.
The new offices, overlooking the riverfront, blend harmoniously with the surrounding landscape. The project bears the signature of Studio GDA Officina di Architettura, led by Giulia de Appolonia, with supervision by the Portuguese firm JLCG Arquitectos.
The project was funded by the Lombardy Region and also included the construction of a pedestrian path and a parking garage with a large outdoor patio on the basement level.
Starting in 2026, under a two-year loan-for-use agreement, the Municipality of Sesto Calende will be able to use the club’s facilities for public activities.
