The project we have envisioned for the Tarare sports complex is a true anchor for the city’s future urban development. It is an welcoming and convivial place that invites visitors to linger and enjoy the facilities and outdoor spaces—a place that brings people together and fosters a sense of community.
Through its positioning and the form it creates, our building integrates seamlessly and elegantly into the site, while preserving its topography and the surrounding natural areas as much as possible. The natural slope of the land is used to reduce the building’s visual impact and height, while also limiting the amount of earthworks required on the site.
The architecture engages with the viaduct, an inseparable element of the landscape whose strong presence gives the site its identity and represents a key consideration in our approach to integration. Indeed, the bridge piers create a regular structural rhythm that divides and defines the site. We have chosen to use this rhythm to give meaning to our building and enhance the existing context. In this way, the building draws inspiration from its immediate surroundings, adopting their proportions, extending the existing rhythm to create new spaces, and playing with sightlines at the entrance to the site.
Facing the pedestrian and cycle path along the river, the future facility creates living spaces that can be easily appropriated by every user, regardless of their mode of transport, mobility, or the activities they practise, whether indoors or outdoors.
The spaces created are understated and harmonious. Simple, durable materials are used both inside and outside. Wood is used predominantly indoors, where it brings warmth, visual comfort and aesthetic appeal, while being protected from the elements. Metal and Trespa are used externally to reduce building maintenance requirements and ensure long-term durability. Their application and appearance are close in tone to the colour of the wood, echoing the warmth of this material.
Concrete is used primarily at the base of the building to respond to the site’s topography. Its appearance and colour have been carefully developed to create a harmonious palette of tones and materials, ensuring the building is integrated as naturally as possible into its surroundings.
The building we have designed is ergonomic, easy to use, attractive and requires little maintenance. The overall operation of the complex has been optimised. The spaces are immediately legible and clearly identifiable for both users and visitors. The building can easily adapt to different uses and contexts—whether sporting competitions, training sessions, classes or indoor and outdoor events—thanks to its flexible and shared-use spaces.
The layout we have developed allows the five main areas accessible to the public and athletes to operate independently and under controlled conditions: the reception area, gymnastics centre, basketball centre, clubhouse and multi-purpose sports hall.
The sports complex is extensively open to the outdoors, the city and the future developments planned along the river, providing excellent visibility of the sporting activities taking place within the complex.
Full accessibility for people with reduced mobility (PRM) is ensured throughout all indoor and outdoor facilities. The facilities are either at ground level or, in the case of the clubhouse and administrative offices located upstairs, accessible by lift.
