Aquatics Centre Paris by VenhoevenCS and Ateliers 2/3/4/: A Landmark of Sustainable Sports Architecture

The Aquatics Centre Paris, designed by VenhoevenCS in collaboration with Ateliers 2/3/4/, stands as a defining architectural legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Located in Saint-Denis, within the evolving Grand Paris metropolitan landscape, the project is the only permanent sports facility purpose-built for the Games, embodying a bold commitment to sustainability, urban integration, and architectural innovation.

Completed in 2024 and spanning 20,000 square meters, the Aquatics Centre redefines contemporary sports architecture through a nature-inspired form, advanced timber engineering, and a radical “less is more” design philosophy. Conceived as both an Olympic venue and a long-term civic asset, the building demonstrates how large-scale public infrastructure can actively contribute to environmental resilience and social vitality.

A Curved Timber Landmark in the Grand Paris Context

Emerging as a sculptural presence, the Aquatics Centre is characterized by its flowing curved wooden roof, which appears to hover lightly above the sports halls. This expressive form is not merely aesthetic; it is the result of precise environmental and structural optimization. The architects deliberately minimized the building’s volume to reduce energy demand, resulting in a compact, efficient structure that limits the amount of air requiring heating by nearly 50 percent.

The roof structure employs an innovative system of long-span tensioned wooden beams, supporting an ultra-thin hanging roof that combines lightness, strength, and architectural dynamism. This pioneering timber solution positions the project at the forefront of sustainable construction, while also showcasing the expressive potential of bio-sourced materials in large public buildings.

Externally, the building is wrapped in pre-grained Douglas fir lamellas, which perform multiple environmental functions. These timber elements provide solar shading, acoustic buffering, and natural ventilation, while simultaneously shaping a sheltered perimeter that enhances the arrival experience. The result is a building that feels both technically advanced and deeply connected to natural materiality.

France’s Largest Urban Solar Roof

One of the Aquatics Centre’s most significant environmental achievements is its role as France’s largest urban solar farm. The expansive roof surface integrates photovoltaic panels that generate renewable energy on site, dramatically reducing operational carbon emissions. This feature reinforces the project’s ambition to exceed regulatory standards and positions it as a benchmark for low-carbon sports facilities.

Designed for the first sustainable Olympic Games of the modern era, the Aquatics Centre aligns with Paris and Grand Paris policies that place climate responsibility and ecological transition at the heart of urban development. Sustainability here is not treated as an add-on, but as the core architectural driver shaping form, structure, and spatial organization.

Flexible Aquatic Spaces for Olympic and Legacy Use

Internally, the Aquatics Centre is designed to host 5,000 spectators during Olympic competitions, including water polo, diving, and artistic swimming. However, flexibility and post-Games adaptability were central to the design strategy from the outset.

The architects introduced modular and multifunctional swimming basins with movable walls and adjustable floors, allowing pool configurations to shift seamlessly between competition, training, and community use. The pool floors can change depth to meet diving requirements, significantly reducing water consumption by up to 25 percent while maximizing spatial efficiency.

This adaptable infrastructure ensures that the building remains relevant long after the Olympics, transforming from an elite sports venue into a public aquatic center that supports local communities and everyday athletic activities.

Biodiversity, Landscape, and Urban Connectivity

Rather than being conceived as a standalone object, the Aquatics Centre is designed as part of a larger ecological and urban system. Its compact footprint frees up valuable ground space, allowing for the planting of 100 new trees that improve air quality, foster biodiversity, and create ecological corridors within the Plaine Saulnier district.

The project is closely integrated with a sports and leisure park, encouraging informal recreation and social interaction. This landscape-driven approach strengthens the building’s role as a civic catalyst, supporting health, well-being, and environmental awareness.

A key urban gesture is the pedestrian overpass spanning the A1 motorway, physically and symbolically connecting the Aquatics Centre to the Stade de France. This infrastructural link reinforces the project’s role in uniting fragmented urban territories, merging architecture with mobility, landscape, and long-term metropolitan strategy.

Material Intelligence and Environmental Certification

Material selection throughout the project reflects a rigorous life-cycle approach. Priority was given to bio-sourced and durable materials, carefully chosen for their environmental performance, longevity, and reduced embodied carbon. Timber plays a central role, supported by efficient construction systems developed in collaboration with engineers and manufacturers.

This commitment to responsible design has been formally recognized through prestigious certifications, including the BiodiverCity Label and an Exceptional rating under the NF HQE Sports Equipment standard. These accolades confirm the Aquatics Centre’s status as a reference project in environmentally responsible public architecture.

A Lasting Olympic Legacy

The Aquatics Centre Paris exemplifies how Olympic architecture can transcend spectacle to deliver meaningful, long-term value. Through its compact form, timber innovation, renewable energy integration, and landscape-driven urban strategy, the project establishes a new benchmark for sustainable sports facilities worldwide.

All photographs are works of  Salem Mostefaoui, Simon Guesdon