
“Arena du Pays d'Aix“ completed
The arena, situated on a freeway intersection to the south-west of Aix-en-Provence, hasn’t got, at first sight, any front or back. Only the façade, the metallic rings of which are stacked like layered contours, and whose large form embraces an events hall for 6,000 spectators plus a smaller training hall, reacts to the site through geometrical modifications: the rings, hovering one above the other, as if separate, show a much stronger shift towards the forecourt than to the other sides, thus creating a canopy to welcome the arena’s visitors.
The project was created in collaboration with Christophe Gulizzi Architecte, Marseille; the main contractor was Fayat Bâtiment, and the client was the Communauté du Pays d’Aix.