Diversity among Membrane‐Covered Sports Facilities in Podgorica, Montenegro

Abstract The city of Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, has a relatively large number of sport facilities covered with textile membranes, with approximately one facility per 6,000 inhabitants. All existing facilities have been erected within the last 20 years. Previous research has identified all such buildings, and this paper presents a study that analyzes their properties in more detail. The aim of the research is to optimize the design of these buildings, with a particular focus on comparing their structural and architectural characteristics. The identified facilities were visited, observed, and documented. Although these buildings appear simple and similar at first glance, a wide spectrum of differences was identified, systematized, and discussed. The results of the research show that a significant number of standardized membrane‐covered facilities exist. However, several structures employ alternative designs that demonstrate new possibilities for the development of membrane‐covered sport halls. The findings of this paper may be useful for designers of similar membrane structures and may serve as a starting point for researchers exploring innovative approaches to designing simple and cost‐effective membrane facilities.