olgga architectes: stadium du littoral

'stadium du littoral' by olgga architectes, grande synthe, france
image © julien lanoo
all images courtesy olgga architectes


french practice olgga architectes have completed 'stadium du littoral', an athletic arena catering to five different sporting
disciplines in one 12 hectare site in grande synthe, france. events are facilitated with three rugby fields, two football fields,
an archery round, running track, 1300m cycling ring and an upcoming BMX track. the low profile structure contains two clubhouses,
locker rooms, community recreation room, administrative offices and seating for 617 spectators. a continuous banded roof spans
between two volumes creating an open central void through which the landscape is framed. the supporting inverted trapezoidal
bases are faced with stretched micro-perforated fabric concealing hollowed out areas. visitors access corridors through
openings within the inclined partitions, revealing the glass-enclosed clubhouses with screened views of the field. together with
the descending seating, the building's profile reads as a unified entity.



view of stands from the field
image © julien lanoo


the monochromatic color pallete seamlessly integrates the diverse materials which were chosen for their durability and
ease of maintenance. the outer layer of textile panels filter away direct sunlight providing thermal control in interior rooms.
weight-lifting rooms, saunas, rugby and soccer facilities are housed within the concrete base. a pedestrian bridge crosses
the encompassing cycling track allowing fans to freely traverse between a communal viewing terrace and the stands without
interrupting the activities below. upon the roof are 700 square meters of photovoltaic panels which generate electricity to be
sold back into the neighborhood's grid. approximately 40 square meters is capable of producing 50% of the center's hot water
while rainwater is collected for use in the toilets. after the installation of a wind turbine, the grounds will produce more energy
than it consumes, leading the way for public projects.



covered seating
image © julien lanoo



pedestrian bridge
image © julien lanoo



pedestrian bridge over cycling track
image © julien lanoo



terrace accessed via bridge
image © julien lanoo



stairs and elevator
image © julien lanoo



cycling storage near the track
image © julien lanoo



view of the field from upper deck
image © julien lanoo



opening through fabric panels to access clubhouses
image © julien lanoo



clubhouse corridor
image © julien lanoo



interior of clubhouse
image © julien lanoo



general stadium seating below clubhouse corridor
image © julien lanoo



sun filtering through the stretch-mounted micro-perforated fabrics
image © julien lanoo



changing facilities
image © julien lanoo



at sunset
image © julien lanoo


project info:


client: ville de grande synthe
area: 2.433 m2 SHON
budget: 4.064.389 EU
program: 617 seatings / 2 clubhouses / locker rooms / offices / multipurpose room / sauna / fitness room.
schedule: delivery september 2011
architect: olgga architectes (alice vaillant, guillaume grenu, nicolas le meur)
consultants: sogeti engineering / abe acoustique