archi5 twists canopy structure above leo lagrange stadium in toulon

archi5 twists canopy structure above léo lagrange stadium in toulon
photo by sergio grazia
all images courtesy of archi5

designed by archi5, the ‘léo lagrange stadium’ is located on an eight-hectare site in toulon, france, situated between mountains to the north and the mediterranean sea to the south. the sports complex includes three football/rugby pitches sized with national standards, a track, six school playing fields, as well as all necessary athletic facilities. all enclosed buildings serving competitions and public gathering are concentrated in a linear bar arrangement at the center of the complex. stadium seating accommodating 3,500 viewers as well as a sinuous public footbridge are composed among these volumes. above, a roof structure takes a twisting form to shade the seating below, while maximizing openness for unobstructed views of fields as well as the site’s context on either side.

the structural configuration allows for maximized openness for viewing the fields as well as the site’s context
photo by sergio grazia

the steel truss canopy is wrapped in a self-cleaning fabric, and allows for the storage of rainwater to be used for watering the fields. with visibility from the highway adjacent to the site, the curving and white sail-like construction serves as a symbol for the complex as well as a landmark for toulon.

seating is provided for viewing the three fields on either side of the roof structure
photo by sergio grazia

the building program for the complex is arranged in a bar measuring 200 meters in length and 20 meters in width. seating is provided for viewing the three primary fields on either side of the facilities, with a meandering public path curving through the middle. beyond the sports activities, spectators have visibility of the distant french riviera and the mountains coudon and faron.

the roof is composed of a sequence of steel trusses connected by large curving side rails
photo by sergio grazia

photo by sergio grazia

the stadium seating accommodates 3,500 viewers
photo by sergio grazia

the sinuous path references the city’s historical ties with the sea
photo by sergio grazia

the project was the winner of the public building of the year in the sports category for the 2013 leaf awards. judges for the prize comment that, ‘the design of the new stadium complements and enhances perception of the local landscape, at the same time emphasizing the highly visible quality of a public facility and its centrality as a gathering point and meeting place.’

at night, the canopy is lit from the interior, illuminating the white textile
photo by sergio grazia

photo by sergio grazia

photo by sergio grazia

photo by sergio grazia

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project info:

location: toulon, var, france
dates: jan. 2006 (competition prize winner); early 2013 (completion)
surface areas: 42,000 sqm (sport grounds); 4,500 sqm of buildings
program: 2 stands of 1045 and 1350 seats, 4 football/rugby grounds, 5 multisports grounds, 2 athletics tracks, multipurpose hall, offices, changing rooms, association spaces
canvas: 3000 sqm (area), 182 m (length), 18.30 (width), 6.50 m to 15.65 m (height)
cost: 27,888,000 € excl. tax.
client: communauté d’agglomération toulon provence méditerranée
architects: archi5 associated with b. huidobro
economist: ingérop (p.a. cot)
engineer: ingérop (p.e. cot)
landscape designer: michel desvigne
photography: sergio grazia