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The Alice Milliat gymnasium, originally a covered market, has been transformed into a sports facility and two shops. Situated in downtown historical Bordeaux within a complex constructed in 1962, the gymnasium stands as a symbol of the city’s contemporary architectural heritage.

Architectural Transformation

The renovation involved the installation of a glass box in the space created by demolishing the existing market and shops. Utilizing ultra-clear glass and refined materials such as brass and wood, the gymnasium exudes a sense of sophistication. A black strip, serving as a technical shadow gap, adds an elegant finishing touch to the design of the glass box.

Versatile Sports Facilities

The ground floor houses a multi-purpose sports hall, a dojo, and a dance and fitness studio. Attention to lighting, transparency, and spaciousness has been paramount in the design of these sports areas, ensuring an optimal environment for athletic activities.

Strategic Layout

To maximize space for sports facilities, the changing rooms are located in the basement. Directional signage, inspired by a sports track, curves along the walls and extends onto the floor, providing clear guidance on the layout of the sports areas and changing rooms. One-way window film on the glazed side façades offers users privacy while maintaining visibility to the outdoors.

The transformation of the Alice Milliat gymnasium reflects a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity, preserving the historical significance of the building while catering to contemporary sports and recreational needs.

The collaboration between Adidas and the National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance (INSEP) led to the renovation of various spaces within the INSEP premises by Ubalt architectes. The objective of this renovation was to create sustainable and functional facilities, reflecting the colors and ethos of both INSEP and Adidas, catering to the needs of INSEP residents and visitors. Areas such as locker rooms, the house of life for athletes, corridors, and meeting spaces were revamped to support high-level athletes in their daily routines.

Creating Architectural and Graphic Identity

The primary challenge of the intervention was to establish a distinct architectural and graphic identity specific to this partnership, evident across the renovated spaces. Several strategies contributed to achieving this consistency, including the consistent use of blue, a color shared by both Adidas and INSEP, as well as specific materials such as stone and metal.

Harmonizing Spaces

One key aspect of the renovation was to create harmony between different spaces, such as the house of life for young athletes. Situated between two brick walls, this unique space serves as a passageway and visually connects with picture windows on either side. The intervention aimed to structure and enhance this space while maintaining a sense of openness.

Functional Design Elements

A central feature of the house of life is a large white expanded metal cage, dividing the space to create various activity zones. These zones, including dining areas, play spaces, and a solarium, offer diverse experiences while maintaining visual coherence through shared design elements such as color and material choice.

Meeting Room and Corridors

The Ostermeyer Room, designed to complement the house of life, features a blue floor, expanded sheet metal, and white-tiled furniture. Corridors were reorganized under the Halle Pajol, dominated by blue hues, creating an immersive experience accentuated by lighting and co-branding elements.

Immersive Locker Rooms

In the locker rooms, immersion was achieved through the strategic use of materials and colors. White tiles juxtaposed with sandstone flooring, accentuated by signature blue blades, created a dynamic space. Mirrors and metallic frames further enhanced the spatial experience, blurring physical boundaries and fostering concentration.

The Adidas X INSEP Space project exemplifies the successful integration of brand identity with functional design, creating an immersive and visually cohesive environment tailored to the needs of high-level athletes.

Architects: Wood Marsh
Photographs: Mengzhu Jiang

Seaside Elegance: A Tribute to Victoria’s Coastline

Architectural Ode to Nature’s Corrosive Ballet

Situated along Victoria’s sandstone coastline, the Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club stands as a testament to the corrosive beauty of its surroundings. Crafted by Wood Marsh, the design draws inspiration from the coastal erosion, embodying a robust ruggedness that gracefully ages over time. The ‘dune’ and ‘stack’ components, portraying the horizontality of the concealed club building and the verticality of the commanding control tower, together capture the essence of weathered resilience.

Integration with the Landscape

Positioned delicately within the landscape, the surf life-saving club expands its program across two levels, tactfully adapting to the slope of the site. The lower level, seamlessly integrated into the original footprint, serves as a foundational podium housing essential facilities, including patrol rooms, first aid stations, change rooms, and surf lifesaving equipment storage. Meanwhile, the upper level, floating amidst coastal vegetation, embraces the social aspects with a café and bar, offering panoramic views of Bass Strait.

Strategic Design and Illusory Simplicity

The entire ground plane is elevated, enhancing accessibility and creating an illusion of singularity, seamlessly blending with the coastal panorama. The control tower, a distinct yet harmonious entity, protrudes like a weathered rock formation, strategically positioned to oversee beach patrols and provide shelter for volunteers. The tower, akin to a coastal beacon, integrates natural timber, dark metal, concrete, and glass, echoing its robust connection to the ocean and eroded dunes.

Eroded Aesthetics and Delicate Shadows

Embracing the eroded aesthetic of its coastal locale, the architecture incorporates deliberate curves, allowing shadows to dance around corners, softening harsh contours. Replacing a twenty-five-year-old structure, the rebuilding process not only revitalized the center’s functionality but also redefined its role as a community hub. Beyond its core surf lifesaving activities, the club now features operable walls and integrated acoustic treatments, offering versatile configurations for diverse functions.

Unobtrusive Elegance for Community Gathering

Connected to the site, landscape, and community, the Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club embodies intentional subtlety, establishing itself as a welcoming space where people unite, sharing a collective admiration for the waterfront. Wood Marsh’s architectural marvel harmonizes with the coastal majesty, creating a haven that gracefully ages alongside the natural forces that shape Victoria’s coastline.