When heritage and contemporary architecture interact, the whole history of the city is revealed. This is the ambition of this project. Facing the castle, the new gymnasium at Pestalozzi Street has its main facade; this confrontation creates a new dynamic space and showcases both the old as the new building town.

The layout of the building is simple and respects both urban constraints as the original site of the old gym. The building displays its main face to the parking on the side of the castle facade. It is on this front that are moving the three gyms. The building consists of two volumes with very different architectural character value functions.

The main volume dominates. It consists of two parts that are home to the three gyms. A base on the ground floor, the structural character is underlined by slanted columns in front, welcomes two full rhythm. Above it is a volume in the fluid volume which houses the large gym. The secondary volume, south side houses the changing rooms spaces, hospitality and technology. Treatment is much more intimate. Two simple volumes, parallelepipeds concrete are connected by an open space that protects the hall the reception area and corridors.

Each volume has its constructive identity. The part housing gyms comprises the ground floor, a little out of the overall volume, peripheral structure of concrete poles tilted and a central concrete core housing sanitary and storage rooms equipment. This structure supports a concrete slab forming the floor of the stage.

A curtain wall glass interrupts this volume to create, at home and vertical circulation, a large facade bathed in natural light from the south. This grand facade is naturally protected by vertical wooden venetian blind.

In terms of energy as the building is very effective, with the double choice of orientation and construction materials. The building allows its direction of maximum use of natural light and thus allow energy while a large economy throughout the year.

Design: Amat & Saint-Val Architectes