Ola Mattsson

As recreational sports shift away from competition, facilities must adapt to support diverse, inclusive activities. Traditional sports facilities, designed for past needs, often fail to meet today’s demands. Sustainability efforts, as highlighted by the Paris Agreement, lead the way for a new paradigm that prioritizes repurposing existing buildings. This approach encourages adapting sports to current architectural frameworks rather than modifying buildings to fit traditional sports. Can this new paradigm help us experiment with innovative ways to align with today’s sports patterns?

Speakers: Ola Mattsson and Oliver Vanges, Innovation Consultants, LOA-fonden, Harald Fux, Raumkunst/president IAKS Austria.

Moderator: Lisa Mari Watson, board member IAKS Nordic.

In this session, Tverga will explore how schoolyards can be transformed into dynamic spaces that promote physical activity during free time. Drawing from practical examples and innovative design approaches, the presentation will highlight how to optimize existing school grounds to encourage spontaneous play, exercise, and social interaction. Join us to discover how schoolyards can contribute to a healthier and more active community beyond the school day.

With Lisa Mari Watson, Managing Director, Tverga and Ola Mattsson, Innovation Consultant, LOA-fonden.

Moderator: Jarkko Rantamäki, board member IAKS Nordic.

When we are planning for a facility for physical activity, is that a sports facility, or is it something else that we need? Can a sports facility work as a community facility for daily health, wellbeing, and activity, or is that a utopian vision? Who are we building for, and why are we building that facility? Mike Lawless will try to provide an insight into how an architect can help us think differently about a facility for general activity as well as traditional sports. He gives us examples of where the client has started to think differently and what results it can produce for the community.

With Mike Lawless, Director LA Architects.

Moderator: Ola Mattsson, board member IAKS Nordic.

As our communities become more diverse, designers of sport and recreation spaces must think beyond basic accessibility standards to foster true access and inclusion. Join Darryl Condon, Managing Principal, HCMA Architecture + Design and Vice president of IAKS Worldwide, as he shares new imperatives for designing community sport, recreation and aquatic facilities that are welcoming and functional for all - regardless of background or ability.

Darryl will challenge participants to move from compliance to compassion; through project case studies, he’ll highlight the importance of engaging people with lived experience throughout the process, as well as actionable strategies to remove as many physical and non-physical barriers as possible.

The seminar will finish with a panel discussion with Darryl Condon, Managing Principal, HCMA Architecture + Design and Vice president of IAKS Worldwide, Ola Mattsson, Innovation Consultant LOA-fonden, and Daniel Glimvert, Operations Coordinator, Swedish Center for Sport and Outdoor Facilities.

Moderator: André Flatner, President IAKS Nordic.