WBSC headquarters takes home Critics Award at international architecture competition

Home Plate, the WBSC headquarters in Pully, Switzerland, this month took home the prestigious Critics Award at Porcelanosa International Project Awards, an international architecture competition.

The awards ceremony took place on 12 May in Milan, Italy to celebrate innovative architecture projects with designs inspired by and integrated into the environment. Home Plate was selected by a jury composed of renowned architects for one of the top awards thanks to its perfect blend of baseball-softball history with contemporary interiors.  

Designed by San Marino architect Enrico Muscioni, Home Plate was created to provide a sustainable home for the global baseball-softball community. The design involved preserving the façade and authentic roof of the Grade III listed building while completely modernising the internal structure to reflect the sport’s history but also bright future ahead.

The jury were particularly impressed with Home Plate’s signature staircase, which is inspired by the form of a batter’s swing and includes a railing made from 100% recyclable Krion, which has the ability to clean the air and prevent the formation of bacteria.

Opened in 2020, sustainability is also built into the heart of the WBSC. For example, approximately 10 per cent of the building’s electricity comes from twenty-four roof top photovoltaic panels, and an underfloor heating and cooling system uses hot and cold water to maintain an ideal office climate which can be maintained for 20 hours after the system is switched off.

The Porcelanosa International Project Awards aims to support the creativity of architects all over the world by celebrating their incredible and innovative designs. A total of 123 projects from 32 countries were submitted across various categories before five finalists were selected for each category. Home Plate also made the final line-up within the public spaces category.