Behind the scenes at Pôle Sport Innovation

Behind the scenes of the Pôle Sport Innovation

This large-scale adventure began at the end of the 2020s with the launch of the study and consultation process. The architectural firm of Baillon-Henrion architectes will lead the construction of this innovative project.

• The aim: to have the minimum impact on the resort and the environment.
• Requirements:
  
  - An innovative building for the development of 4-season sports
  
  - An underground parking lot (with disabled access) to improve traffic flow and parking
  
  - A space accessible to both top-level athletes and the general public

A sensitive, aesthetic and architectural dialogue between the resort of Les Orres 1650 and its environment.

COMBINING ARCHITECTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

The creation of the Pôle Sport Innovation is a balanced marriage between resolutely contemporary lines and the unique architectural style of the Les Orres 1650 resort. The use of top-quality materials makes this building a testament to the mountains of tomorrow.

One of a kind, the snow front has been designed in the shape of an arc, a veritable receptacle for the resort's slopes. The Pôle Sport Innovation was built in the continuity of this circus: it fills the "hollow tooth" between the Pic Vert chairlift and the kindergarten.

The cutaway composition and unstructured forms of the Pôle Sport Innovation echo the resort's architectural style. The colors are not to be outdone: the visible part of the Pôle Sport Innovation is adorned with a rough precast concrete that recalls the resort's white walls and reveals an interesting texture. This cladding protects the insulation and stands the test of time.

Wood is an essential material. Initially, the cladding was to be made of burnt wood, a traditional mountain material. However, the materials were too far from the site. Out of concern for the environment, the architects chose to use high-quality local larch from the Hautes Alpes. To match the color of the resort's wooden corbels, the wood is painted and protected with an ecological, solvent-free, long-lasting woodstain.

The window frames and doors are made of untreated local larch.

The gigantic bay window offers a breathtaking view of the mountain and snow front. It will be clad with honeycomb-shaped sunshades, in keeping with the Les Orres brand aesthetic.

Finally, the roof. The roofs of Les Orres 1650 have a unique feature : they have no overhangs. This means that snow doesn't fall to the ground, but instead accumulates on the roof. When the snow melts, it is collected in water collection gutters. This technique has been integrated into the roofs of the Pôle Sport Innovation.

The terrace at the rear of the building, which is also the roof of the underground section of the Pôle Sport Innovation, will be planted with vegetation and will host a ski slope in winter.

A BUILDING NESTLED UNDERGROUND IN THE HEART OF THE MOUNTAINS

The Pôle Sport Innovation is totally integrated into nature: the building is a veritable iceberg. Most of the complex is located underground. Only the top two floors are visible.

Technical feats

Integrating the building without altering the landscape was a real architectural challenge.



Building the Pôle Sport Innovation into the ground and up against the mountain required the construction of rock-solid foundations . In addition, an enormous quantity of groundwater flows through the subsoil. A high-performance drainage system had to be integrated to evacuate the excess water. To achieve this, the entire network was refurbished. Rainwater is discharged directly into the torrent.



The underground part of the Pôle Sport Innovation is covered by a platform accessible to all. It will host activities such as archery in summer, as well as rescue services and a ski slope in winter. It must therefore support the weight of concrete, snow and snow groomers.

Thermal insulation a top priority

Most of the building is underground. This configuration naturally benefits from high-performance thermal insulation. At the front, the Pôle Sport Innovation is insulated from the outside. At the rear, it is protected by natural earth.



To ensure an efficient supply of hot water to the showers, a shared pellet-fired boiler room has been installed in the basement. The size of the silo remains very reasonable, thanks to the building's excellent insulation. To prevent the 5-6 metre high chimneys from disrupting the aesthetics of the site, they have been integrated into the rear of the building.

The elevator cores are also insulated toprevent heat loss.

A future pedestrian tunnel

A tunnel for pedestrians has been planned under the snow front. Although it won't open immediately, it will soon make it possible to cover the distance between the Pôle Sport Innovation (and the underground parking lot) and the heart of the resort without having to cross the snow front. To be continued!

A FOCUS ON USER COMFORT

Pôle Sport Innovation has been designed to provide maximum comfort for customers, from parking in the underground parking lot to the activities on offer.

All areas of the Pôle Sport Innovation, from the treadmill to the climbing gym and the weight-training platform, are insulated from one another. As a result, each room maintains an ideal temperature: 12-13° for the ski carpet, 19° for the body-building and cardio area... Acoustics have also been designed to ensure that each room is acoustically isolated from the others.

Heated ski lockers enable equipment to be stored safely for several days.

The underground parking lot is higher and wider than conventional underground parking lots. This considerable height allows vehicles with roof boxes or skis to feel at ease as soon as they enter. Traffic lanes and parking spaces are also wider than average.

Electric recharging stations complete the parking lot's services.

DISCOVER THE ACTIVITIES OF THE SPORT INNOVATION CLUSTER