A team led by Mecanoo and Metaform Architects had the winning competition proposal to design a new 24,500 m2 velodrome and recreational sports complex amid the rolling hills of Mondorf-les-Bains, a town in Luxembourg best known for its thermal baths. Construction of the project is currently planned for 2020-23.
Mecanoo shared more details about the project below.
The velodrome will host national and international cycling events, while the sports complex will serve as a new athletic hub for the local community and will include an aquatic center, multi-functional sports hall, climbing wall, two cafes, and offices for the Luxembourgish Cycling Federation (FSCL). The complex will also be accessible to students at the future international school that is currently proposed for an adjacent site.
“The Velodrome appears as a floating volume with a transparent band separating the solid volume of the roof from the landscape. The simple form puts the elegant engineered timber structure on display. Wood and concrete finishes create a neutral, durable yet warm backdrop to the complex. Strategically placed skylights and glazed facades optimize natural daylight while framing views to the landscape,” Mecanoo says.
A restricted site and limited budget factored into the project's compact design. The swimming pools and sports halls are sunken into the topography and the sloping green roofs, which help the building blend into its landscape. “This gives the desired prominence to the velodrome as a recognizable landmark in the landscape, visible from the neighboring highway, while the manipulations of topography and landscape rationalize the complex program in a clever and economical way.”
The layout connects the facilities through a grand foyer while maintaining a clear circulation for both athletes (professional, recreational, or students) and spectators. A large open staircase connects the public foyer on the first floor with the entrance, which creates a public axis to the aquatic center and the spectator areas of the velodrome and multi-sports hall, Mecanoo says. Brasseries create informal gathering and waiting spaces, and outdoor terraces provide views to all the facilities and the landscape.