ANALYZING BUILDINGS

Sports and Leisure Center in Saint-Cloud / KOZ Architectes


Architect: KOZ Architectes / Christophe Ouhayoun – Nicolas Ziesel

Location: Saint-Cloud, France
Project team: Ambrus Evva, François Kharatt
Structural Engineers: EVP Ingénierie
Contractor: Delta Fluides
Acoustic Consultant: Delphi Acoustique
Budget: $3.8M Euro
Project Area: 1,600 sqm
Project year: 2007-2009

The geometry of the building is a straightforward cubic form.  the plan however appears to be broken up into two different geometries with the ir adjacencies creating circulation.  The purpose of these two different masses both in plan and section create the division between administrative and the main building facilites.

 
 

The building lacks symmetry but for the purpose of it being a facility mainly used by children it requires dynamicity.  The building as we can see is made up of two parts a large cube on the left overlapping with a rectangular shape on the right.
 
The structure of the building is based on the intersections and perimeters that these two geometries create.  The uppermost floors partitions' are formed by the intersections while the lower floors are created from the perimeters.
 

The lighting works hand in hand with the colors given to the exterior glass facade and the interior wall finishes.  These help one another to distinguish the different uses of every room and the other volumes of the building most notedly the stairs and other circulation paths.

RELAXX sport and leisure center / AK2

Architects: AK2

Location: Bratislava, Slovakia
Designers: Andrea Klimková, Peter Kručay
Project Year: 2008
Site Area: 5,418 sqm
Construction Area: 9,271 sqm
 
 

 

The geometry of the building was to be related to the high velocity highway on its side and the shape of the building had to be something to the level of a nearby building which had won an architectural competition.  

The building attempts to be symmetrical but its contrast in one facade elevation versus another dont permit it.  It is onyl left to its connection towards the next building that gives it some sense of balance with its surroundings.

 The only grid the building has is a structural one.  Its supports of naked concrete start to suggest it at the base but is not clearly seen until we see the building section.

Complexe sportif de l’Assomption / Les Architectes FABG

Architects: les architectes FABG

Location: Montréal, Québec, Canada
Program: sport complex
Contractor: L’Archevêque & Rivest
Budget: 15,000,000 $ can.
Building area: 8,500 sqm
Total floor area: 8,500 sqm
Project Year: 2008

 
 

 The buildings is an addition to an already existing high school and was to be an addition of various sports facilities with the main sport being hockey.  the geometries for this building seemed to be various rectangles but with just one volume, the hockey ring arena, being the main englassed space.

In this sports compelx there is a strong attention to where light is projected.  Opportunities where light is a direct source for illumination is turned into either circulation and as a result glazed floor to floor panels.













These 3 examples have been good because each offers a piece of the puzzle when thinking of how to start or where to start design prioritizing from.  In one example its lighting and appealing to the client, in another its adapting to surroundings, and in another its addition with respect to an already existing institution.