Mecanoo and Metaform, Netherlands and Luxembourg based architecture offices, together with Pohl Architekten have won a competition to design a new Velodrome and a Sports Complex in Mondorf-les-Bains, Luxembourg. The Velodrome, Multi-Sports and Swimming Pool Complex project is inspired by its surroundings, a subtly undulating topography. The main challenge was to integrate all three functions under one roof while paying respect to the context and at the same time to create the architectural landmark for the city of Mondorf-les-Bains.
The idea behind the positioning of the building base and the adjacent functions ‘underground’ as much as possible results in maximum optimization of built surfaces and reduction of the lateral facades. This has a significant impact on enabling the design to remain on target in terms of budget, it allows for minimization of the use of materials, optimizes the operational energy costs, and finally improves the energy performance of the building.
The project is therefore very compact, but it does not exclude generous and welcoming spaces. The main entrance is accessible by foot, as an extension of the central square, which connects the parking lot, the future school complex and the sports center. Access to the three main functions (velodrome, swimming pool, and the multi-sports hall) and their belonging cafeterias is intuitive and natural. The main lobby distributes the users further in the building. The simple and clean geometry allows visitors, athletes, students, and the employees to orientate quickly and easily. Moreover, it does not only serve as a flow-distribution area, but it is treated as a genuine central place, a spine of the building.
The velodrome volumetry is positioned on the building base, covered by the ‘green carpet’, an extension of the surrounding landscape, and therefore as a singular object is easily recognizable from the nearby highway and the site entrance. The simple silhouette of the velodrome is detached from the ground, hovering over the greenery, and letting the view towards the landscape appear in the background of the fully glazed concourse.