Heinz Isler's Sole UK Project Earns Historic Protection

A groundbreaking sports complex in Norwich, the only known UK project by famed Swiss engineer Heinz Isler, has received a significant historic listing. The government’s decision in late January 2026 protects the site’s innovative concrete shell structures. Moreover, this recognition arrives just in time for the 100th anniversary of Heinz Isler’s birth, celebrating his remarkable contribution to global architecture. This timely announcement secures the future of these exceptional forms.

A Masterpiece of Engineering

The listing specifically safeguards the building’s “inverted membrane” roofs. These thin shells, just 100mm thick, are a testament to brilliant engineering. Inspired by the organic shape of draped cloth, Heinz Isler created vast, column-free internal spaces for the sports hall and swimming pool. This technique makes the building one of only three such shell structures built in England since the 1970s. Consequently, its preservation is a major victory for architectural conservationists, who have long campaigned for its protection. The use of reinforced concrete in this way was revolutionary.

A close up view of the curved concrete roof at the Norwich Sports Village, an iconic Heinz Isler design, showing its texture and form. — The elegant curves of the roof highlight the free-form design methodology used for the project, inspired by draped fabrics. (Image © The Twentieth Century Society)

The Lasting Legacy of Heinz Isler

Heinz Isler (1926-2009) was a master of reinforced concrete shells. His work is world-renowned. However, the Norwich Sports Village, constructed between 1987 and 1991, remains his only project in the United Kingdom. Isler developed his free-form designs by studying physical models, a method that involved turning draped fabrics upside down to find the most efficient structural shapes. This hands-on research approach was unique in Britain. Additionally, his work continues to inspire architects and engineers on our global news platform.

From Sporting Hub to Architectural Icon

Developed on an 11-acre site near Norwich’s ring road, the complex originally cost £11.75 million. The site’s development was a major addition to the cities infrastructure. It quickly became a notable venue, hosting major sporting events throughout the 1990s. For instance, boxer Herbie Hide won the WBO heavyweight title there in 1997. Although a part of the original aquapark closed in 2005, the site remains active. Today, it stands as a landmark, admired not just for its past projects but for its enduring design.

Interior of the sports hall at the Norwich complex designed by Heinz Isler, showcasing the expansive, column free ceiling that defines the space. — The innovative shell structure creates a vast, open-plan interior, a hallmark of Heinz Isler’s engineering genius. (Image © The Twentieth Century Society)

This new historic status ensures that the genius of Heinz Isler will be preserved for future generations to study and admire. What other underappreciated architectural works do you think deserve similar protection?

A Quick Architectural Snapshot

The Norwich Sports Village features remarkable “inverted membrane” concrete shells just 100mm thick, spanning large areas with minimal support. Located near the city’s ring road, this unique UK project by Heinz Isler showcases a free-form design inspired by draped fabric, marking a significant moment in structural engineering.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

The selection of a single-specialty engineer for a project requiring large, unobstructed interior spaces indicates a decision framework that prioritized structural performance over standardized construction. This reliance on a methodology with no precedent in its national context created an asset whose value was primarily technical, not easily replicated or maintained through conventional means.

Decades later, this technical rarity required a secondary institutional intervention—historic preservation—to shield it from economic or operational pressures that typically disfavor bespoke, high-maintenance structures.

The resulting shell form is the logical outcome of a system that first imports specialized expertise for a functional problem and later applies a heritage framework to manage the long-term risk of that initial outlier decision. The building’s survival became dependent on its reclassification from a private facility to a public cultural artifact.