Turnhalle, gymnasium and multi-purpose building in Windhoek, Namibia
The Turnhalle is a multipurpose hall in Windhoek that functions as a gymnasium, courthouse, and event space combined in one structure. The building features high ceilings and solid brickwork with large windows, supported by distinctive wooden timber beams that were innovative for the construction methods of early 1900s Windhoek.
The building was constructed in 1909, following an earlier temporary metal structure from 1905 used by a German sports club. It later hosted a constitutional conference convened in 1975 that played a key role in Namibia's path toward independence and political self-determination.
The name derives from the German gymnastics tradition brought by an early sports club that used the site starting in 1905. Today, the building remains a gathering place where locals gather for meetings and community events, reflecting how the space has evolved beyond its original athletic purpose.
The building is located at an easily accessible street corner near other historic structures and can be reached on foot or by bus. The grounds display everyday signs of city life with parked vehicles and serve as a gathering point for residents throughout the day.
The building housed the SADC Tribunal from 2005 to 2007, handling regional legal disputes before being destroyed by fire, with the courtroom later restored. This period marks one of the few times a major regional court operated from Windhoek, making the site notable in southern African legal history.
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