Culture and sports complex in Romont
The intervention area for the new multipurpose centre is located in a strategic position between the existing school and the Sports /entertainment hall. The Plot shows a homogeneous slope throughout the south that offers exceptional views to the Swiss Pre-Alps.
The project respects the characteristics of the site and allows to improve the connection between the different buildings of the surrounding, thus reinforcing the idea of a linear campus along the street. The new building takes place next to the school, creating a new pedestrian connection between the two buildings and linking it with the Sports / entertainment hall.
The squarish and compact floor plan takes profit of the southwest orientation and flatters the view over the landscape and the Romont castle, while opening up for the garden.
The position on the slope generates two reference levels: a lower level against the terrain and an upper one at the street level, where the swimming pool area is arranged, thus standing on a privileged position on the terrain.
The building is organized by three elements: the plinth in contact with the ground, with the technical spaces, an "open plan" with the public uses and the water area, and finally, the upper level, containing rooms for the conservatory, the spa and the sports facilities.
The structural concept defines the project and the distribution of all the pieces of the program, creating two different and opposite environments.
In the ground floor, each pool is bounded by lintels, which rest on the corner pillars. Those help to define areas with different heights and atmospheres within the large common space. This structural exercise allows a great transparency of the façade, favouring both the views to the outdoors, as well as bringing up spatial fluidity to the interior.
Interlaced concrete walls generate the upper floor, creating a grid that confers a hermetic and introverted feeling in the spaces. Simultaneously, this structural strategy allows opening up the ground floor plan.
While on the ground floor the facade is completely transparent, the upper floor appears more introverted. Only some linear windows frame the landscape and simultaneously set the light in the interior.
The main characters of the project are the surrounding landscape and the zenithal light. Three zones are conceived with double high spaces, two swimming pools and the foyer. A large wooden structure allows lightening the spaces through zenithal light. Besides bringing light into the spaces, these elements host the technical installations and thanks to their shape and cladding manage the acoustic.
The choice of materials strengthens the structural concept and, simultaneously, gives specificity to each part of the program. Concrete is used for the main structure and wood for the slabs and skylights in the swimming pool area. The two structural materials are juxtaposed with more refined and sumptuous claddings such as polished stainless steel, velvet curtains or mosaic.
The facade is treated as an abstract envelope presented as an extreme simplification of the architectonical concept. The galvanised steel, found as well in the interior, defines both the plinth and the upper floor, while the first floor is completely transparent.
