How David Lloyd Clubs set a new standard
In Sterrebeek, a Belgian suburb of Brussels, a sports club has taken root that literally and figuratively stands out above the rest. David Lloyd Clubs, known for its high-end sports and lifestyle concepts, shows in its new location how smart use of space can lead to a vital and future-proof urban environment.
The power of the roof as an opportunity space
While cities struggle with lack of space and fragmented square metres, the roof landscape is often forgotten territory. Sterrebeek proves otherwise. Here, the roof is not the place for installations, solar panels or empty space, but a fully-fledged sports landscape. With two all-weather tennis courts, a padel court and a stylish rooftop lounge, sports at height become a reality.
This project shows that the roof functions as an opportunity space: for movement, meeting and relaxation. Indeed, it literally increases the experiential value of the building. While elsewhere lack of space is an excuse, David Lloyd proves that on top of buildings extra added value is created, for health, social interaction and aesthetics.
Architecture that invites to move
The design of the club is by renowned architecture firm WATG, known worldwide for its work in hospitality and leisure. Their vision: to see outdoor space not as an obstacle, but as an opportunity to connect people. The rooftop is therefore not an afterthought, but a crucial element in the experience of this club.
From the roof garden you overlook the green edges of Brussels and the surrounding golf courses. The lounge areas and stands invite you to relax and meet people. And because the sports facilities are on top, there is still space inside for fitness, wellness, DL Kids programmes, childcare and catering.
Not a design trick, but a vision of the future
Whereas some roof terraces still have mainly aesthetic functions, Sterrebeek is a textbook example of a multifunctional roof. Here, people not only move but also work, care and communicate. The combination of padel courts, a business lounge, a children's programme and events turns this rooftop into an urban mini-hub where sports, care, work and family come together.
With this, David Lloyd is no longer just positioning itself as a sports club, but as a 'lifestyle destination'. The investment in the rooftop is part of a wider strategy to transform clubs into places of connection, health and community.
"Tennis on the roof? For David Lloyd, it's not a dream, it's a daily routine."
An inspiration for other cities
What does this mean for other European cities? A lot. Because here too, municipalities struggle with lack of sports facilities, lack of space, health problems and declining sports participation. Roofs offer opportunities to address these challenges holistically.
Imagine tennis courts on top of shopping malls. Basketball courts on car parks. Climbing walls on hospitals. Urban fitness zones on schools. Or sports roofs on top of community centres and libraries. What was realised in Sterrebeek with private funds can also be realised in the Netherlands through PPP constructions, collaborations between municipalities, developers, sports associations and architects.
More than just sport: social gains on all fronts
What makes this project in Sterrebeek truly unique is not just the innovative design or the fact that tennis is played on a roof. It's about the social impact. This roof brings movement, relaxation and meeting together in one place. And that has multiple benefits:
✔ Efficient use of space
The roof is no longer residual space, but active opportunity space. Without adding extra building land, you create sports opportunities, meeting places and vitality functions. In cities where land prices are rising, this is economically and strategically smart.
✔ Health in the living environment
Integrating sports and leisure facilities into living and working environments lowers the threshold to get moving. No travel time, no excuses. People can exercise during lunch breaks, before or after work - or even between appointments.
✔ Community building and inclusion
A rooftop like this becomes a social hub. From morning tennis to weekend family tournaments, networking events to youth training. The roof brings people together, young and old, local residents and visitors.
✔ Iconic added value
The eye wants something too. The roof acts as a landmark, a visual landmark in the city. Not a grey roof with installations, but a statement: here stands a future-oriented city that puts health, exercise and meeting at the top of the agenda.
City rooftops as answer to urban scarcity The example of David Lloyd Sterrebeek is not an exception, but a harbinger. A blueprint for how cities can innovate without expanding. Here, on top of a building, a fully-fledged sports infrastructure is created that increases the quality of life, without taking up an extra square metre of land.
Imagine:
- Tennis courts on top of shopping centres
- Basketball courts on car parks
- Climbing on hospitals or healthcare institutions
- Urban fitness zones at secondary schools or ROCs
- Exercise squares on rooftops of community centres, libraries or municipal offices
These ideas are not utopian. With a clever mix of PPS (public-private partnership) structures, creative design, policy ambition and engaged citizens, other cities too can literally take sport and vitality to the next level.