ArchShowcase 
Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. Aquatics centre in Saint-Denis, France by VenhoevenCS & AteliersOctober 6th, 2020 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: VenhoevenCS & Ateliers On 13 September 2017 in Lima, the International Olympic Committee officially chose Paris as the host city for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, gathering 206 delegations and approximately 15,000 athletes, will be held from 26 July to 11 August 2024 with the Paralympic Games held from 28 August to 8 September 2024.  Image Courtesy © VenhoevenCS & Ateliers
 Image Courtesy © VenhoevenCS & Ateliers
 Image Courtesy © VenhoevenCS & Ateliers  Image Courtesy © VenhoevenCS & Ateliers The Aquatics Centre is the only major facility that will be built for the 2024 Paris Games, since 95% of the dedicated sites are already in place or will be temporary. Situated on the former site of the Engie research centre, the location of the Aquatics Centre was selected for: – its strategic proximity to the Stade de France and the future athletic village – its excellent access by car and public transport – the intense dynamic of urban renewal underway in this sector. The Métropole du Grand Paris is the client for the Aquatics Centre regarding “construction, development, upkeep, and operations of major cultural and sports facilities of international or national stature.” It is also the client for the adjacent pedestrian overpass that will cross the A1 expressway and link the Aquatics Centre to the Stade de France.  Image Courtesy © VenhoevenCS & Ateliers  Image Courtesy © VenhoevenCS & Ateliers Construction of the Aquatics Centre solves five major challenges: – enables the organization of events of a national and international scale, – will be a model facility at the service of high-level athletes, – facilitates access to swimming and learning how to swim, – develops sporting activities for city dwellers and promotes the practice of sports, – ensures a highly exemplary environmental character. Located in the heart of the ZAC Plaine Saulnier (joint development zone), the purpose of the Aquatics Centre is to become fully integrated with its environment through this development project of metropolitan interest. The legal structure chosen is one of a concession. With a duration of 20 years, it will cover the design, construction, and operation of the Aquatics Centre and the pedestrian overpass 15 May 2020, the Métropole du Grand Paris awarded this concession to the group organized by Bouygues and which includes the architects VenhoevenCS (Amsterdam) and Ateliers 2/3/4 (Paris).  Image Courtesy © VenhoevenCS & Ateliers  Image Courtesy © VenhoevenCS & Ateliers The Aquatics Centre has been designed by the firms VenhoevenCS (Amsterdam) and Ateliers 2/3/4/ (Paris) to host exceptional events such as the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, but most importantly to become a major public facility open to the region. Its design relies on innovative principles of ecological building, which make it an exemplary project. The Aquatics Centre and its pedestrian overpass blend an urban strategy with an architectural gesture to advance the ecological and environmental economy. It creates a facility combining a global aura with its integration into the metropolitan landscape, breathing new life into the district of the ZAC Plaine Saulnier. The project faces many challenges: – to advance the values of Paris 2024, – to be the most sustainable games in history, – to be positioned facing the Stade de France, the largest sports arena in France, – to be a part of a historic area in the midst of a mutation.  Image Courtesy © VenhoevenCS & Ateliers  Image Courtesy © VenhoevenCS & Ateliers Thus, it represents the first step in the process of a new neighbourhood being created. Anchored in the landscape, today it is destined to write a new page in its history to the benefit of a sustainable, lively, open neighbourhood initiating social and economic dynamic for the Plaine Saint-Denis. The raised aquatic stadium is placed at the same level as the Stade de France. This sports facility serving as the platform opens to public spaces in the ZAC Plaine Saulnier. A broad ramp extends along the building from the park to the ZAC. Connected at several points, it transforms into a forecourt for the stadium and extends all the way from the pedestrian overpass at the A1 up to the plaza in front of the Stade de France. The aquatics centre, its forecourt, gardens, access ramp, and pedestrian overpass have been designed as a whole. Each of these elements possesses its own characteristics while also resonating with the others to create a single balanced and dynamic composition.  Image Courtesy © VenhoevenCS & Ateliers  Image Courtesy © VenhoevenCS & Ateliers The aquatic arena possesses a streamlined silhouette imagined as a strong and compact form presenting a single unifying image. A wooden sculpture emerging from a green landscape, a symbol on the metropolitan skyline, underscores its values of sustainability. The stadium is entirely enveloped by a sunbreak of sinuous and dynamic design, creating an inviting space between inside and outside. This envelopment creates a sheltered threshold for welcoming spectators and the extension of the building’s uses a lively forecourt providing an immense plateau dedicated to welcoming the public and directly connected to the forecourt in front of the Stade de France. The base is compact to allow room for the nature surrounding it. It communicates with the exterior spaces, allows light to penetrate, and opens up perspectives. It is on the scale of the district and its minerality is linked to the ground. It is welcoming and allows the visitor to see the different sporting activities taking place inside the aquatics centre. Grand perspectives have been designed for the interior, which place the different spaces and activities in relation to each other.  Image Courtesy © VenhoevenCS & Ateliers  Image Courtesy © VenhoevenCS & Ateliers
Contact VenhoevenCS & Ateliers
Tags: France, Saint-Denis Categories: Aquatic Centre, Mixed use, Sports Centre, Swimming Pool |
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
|||||
email
Facebook
Twitter
RSS Feed
