‘Archi-Folies 2024,’ a cultural event combining architecture and sports, will be held at the Parc de La Villette in Paris’ 19th arrondissement to celebrate the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. This project, organized and financed by the Ministry of Culture in partnership with La Villette, the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF), and the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee, involves the participation of students from 20 Écoles Nationales Supérieures d’Architecture (ENSA) and Écoles Nationales Supérieures de Paysage (ENSA-P) across France.
From the design phase in 2023 to the completion of the pavilions in 2024, the project spans 18 months. In July 2023, design sketches and models were publicly showcased at the Paris-Malaquais ENSA near the Seine. The urban design office Germe&Jam developed architectural design and construction guidelines, ensuring the pavilions harmonize with Bernard Tschumi’s red follies in La Villette Park, where Tschumi serves as the project’s patron.
The pavilions reflect the identity of each sports federation while emphasizing functionality and sustainability. For example, the Cycling Federation’s pavilion is inspired by geometric principles in sports, the Fencing Federation’s pavilion by fencing techniques, the Mountain Federation’s by climbing walls, and the Surfing Federation’s by beach shelters. Additionally, the pavilions incorporate the seven values promoted by the Paris Olympics: symbolism, ecology, commitment, equality, inclusion, calmness, and unity.
Throughout the project, students explored innovative building materials and sustainable practices, emphasizing architectural creativity and collective collaboration. This initiative not only references Tschumi’s Follies but also evolves them, addressing future sustainability for the Parc de La Villette and enhancing visitor experiences while considering climate change.
Post-Olympics, in line with the ‘Paris 2024 Heritage and Sustainability Plan’ by the French government, the pavilions will be dismantled and relocated for use by local authorities and partner organizations. Some sports federations will continue using their pavilions to promote their sports.
The 20 pavilions were first showcased from June 14 to July 7, 2024, before the Olympics and will reopen from August 28 to September 3 during the Paralympic Games.
1. Ascension
Designer: ENSA Paris-Est
Partner: French Federation of Mountaineering and ClimbingFF Escalade
Photograph: Aurélien Chen
2. Surfing PavilionSURF LA KAZ
Designer: ENSA La Réunion
Partner: French Surfing FederationFF Surf
Photograph: Aurélien Chen
3. TWIGSLES RAM’EAUX
Designer: ENSA Nancy
Partner: French Rowing FederationFF Aviron
Photograph: Aurélien Chen
4. BLUISH IMMERSIONIMMERSION BLEUTÉE
Designer: ENSA Grenoble
Partner: French Canoe-Kayak FederationFF Canoé Kayak
Photograph: Aurélien Chen
5. SAILING MADNESSFOLIE DE LA VOILE
Designer: ENSA Marseille
Partner: French Sailing FederationFF Voile
Photograph: Aurélien Chen
6. AVANT-GARDE
Designer: ENSA Paris-Malaquais
Partner: French Fencing FederationFF Escrime
Photograph: Aurélien Chen
7. PUNCHCOUP DE POING
Designer: ENSA Paris-Val de Seine
Partner: French Boxing FederationFF Boxe
Photograph: Aurélien Chen
8. THE TRIANGLELE TRIANGLE
Designer: ENSA Strasbourg
Partner: French Triathlon FederationFF Triathlon
Photograph: Aurélien Chen
9. VELODOMEVÉLODÔME
Designer: ENSA Clermont-Ferrand
Partner: French Cycling FederationFF Cyclisme
Photograph: Aurélien Chen
10. ATHLETICS PAVILIONPAVILLON D’ATHLÉTISME
Designer: ENSA Paris-Belleville
Partner: French Athletics FederationFF Athlétisme
Photograph: Aurélien Chen
11. 5 SENSES OF PENTA5 SENS DU PENTA
Designer: ENSA Bordeaux
Partner: French Modern Pentathlon FederationFF Pentathlon Moderne
Photograph: Aurélien Chen
12. THE CAROUSELLE MANÈGE
Designer: ENSA Versailles
Partner: French Equestrian FederationFF Équitation
Photograph: Aurélien Chen
13. CO³
Designer: ENSA Montpellier
Partner: French Roller & Skateboard FederationFF Roller & Skateboard
Photograph: Aurélien Chen
14. ROUTINELA ROUTINE
Designer: ENSA Saint-Etienne
Partner: French Gymnastics FederationFF Gymnastique
Photograph: Aurélien Chen
15. RUGBY PAVILIONPAVILLON DU RUGBY
Designer: ENSA Toulouse
Partner: French Rugby FederationFF Rugby
Photograph: Aurélien Chen
16. PAPILLON
Designer: ENSA Lille
Partner: French Federation of BasketballFF Basket-Ball
Photograph: Aurélien Chen
17. STEP BY STEP
Designer: ENSA Lyon
Partner: French Dance FederationFF Danse
Photograph: Aurélien Chen
18. UP’N’OUT
Designer: ENSA Paris-La Villette
Partner: French Federation of WrestlingFF Lutte
Photograph: Aurélien Chen
19. THE FLIGHTL’ENVOL
Designer: ESA
Partner: French Badminton FederationFF Badminton
Photograph: Aurélien Chen
20. TY-ARC’H
Designer: ENSA Bretagne
Partner: French Archery FederationFF Tir à l’Arc
Photograph: Aurélien Chen
