Bid to protect 'masterpiece' concrete shell roofs

The distinctive shell structures form part of what was Norwich Sports Village, which opened in Hellesdon in 1988

A leisure centre's "majestic" concrete domes should be granted protected status because they are one-of-a-kind in the UK, a campaign group has said.

The distinctive shell structures form part of what was Norwich Sports Village, which opened in Hellesdon in 1988.

The Twentieth Century Society said the buildings, now a David Lloyd health club, should be listed by Historic England as the only UK design by Swiss engineer Heinz Isler.

"The majestic, tent-like canopies at Norwich Sports Village are a masterpiece of engineering, making the super-fine 100mm thick concrete shell ripple and billow like it's blowing in the wind," said Oli Marshall, the society's campaigns director.

"These are unique structures in the UK and so we hope they'll be recognised with national listing.

"Perhaps just as importantly, they're still well used and serving their original purpose; to provide an elegant and practical shelter for the various activities beneath - a swim, trip to the gym, or a game of tennis."

Pictured in the early 1990s, one shell housed the Aquapark, which closed in 2005

The design became the specialism of Mr Isler, who was inspired by the shape of his plumped-up pillow when working on his first project, a Swiss hotel, in the mid-1950s.

He helped engineer about 1,000 buildings in Europe - but only Norwich Sports Village in the UK, the society said.

He died in 2009, aged 82.

The shells are now a feature of David Lloyd health club

Other notable buildings that used the shell structure included the 1930s Doncaster Municipal Airport, now demolished and a Grade II-listed 1940s bus depot in Manchester, the society said.

A school sports hall in Worcestershire, and a sports centre in Mildenhall, Suffolk, both built to an Italian engineer's shell design in 1977 and Grade II-listed, were thought to be the last examples of the construction nationally, until Norwich Sport Village, it added.

Historic England confirmed it had received an application to consider this site for listing, with a final decision to be made by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

David Lloyd has been approached for comment.