Page 21 - Designing Ways 261

The velodrome

venues in one movement. The organic is characterised by its inverted conch-
The sports and entertainment grand hall aspect of the building stems from its shaped volume and its acoustic ceiling
conception. It is less of a design gesture made of wooden boards. The building
than the consequence of a process that has two ground floors and is organised so
articulates the three halls on a singular that the different types of flows - public,
landscape. The façade is like a skin sportsmen, technicians, artists, staff, and
wrapping itself around the rooms, partners - are clearly separated.
resulting in a shifting shape that constantly
changes depending on the viewpoint. It is The sports and entertainment grand hall
composed of three horizontally stacked The functional organisation of the
stripes that deform themselves in order building responds to its multiple uses.
to envelop the volumes as tightly as The design of the convertible grand hall
possible. These three ribbons overlap and is induced by its need for versatility as it
rotate around the building, generating must be functional for shows, concerts,
fluidity, unity, and movement. Together, as well as for sports games. While sports
they create a flexible plane covering the events require an arena system where
entire height of the building sometimes the spectators are sitting all around
elevating itself in certain points in order the field, concerts and shows require a
to uncover glazed façades. Its complex frontal system with a stage. The room is
form is subdivided into simple, identical asymmetrical with a large balcony on
geometric elements allowing a rational one side, which allows the installation of
construction using textured aluminum a stage on the long north side, therefore
plates. reducing the distance between the
performers and the public. Diagonal
The lobby curtains can be drawn to transform the
The lobby is designed within the arena configuration into a trapezium that
interstitial space between the three flares out starting from the stage frame.
main venues. Its organisation allows a In the sports events’ configuration, the
fluid circulation of the different public field is closely surrounded by an arena of
flows according to various scenarios of bleachers. The technical treatment of this
occupation - the three venues can be in hall has been thought out so that it can be
use at the same time or not. The lobby quickly converted from one configuration

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