'Archi-Folies 2024' by 20 Architecture Schools of France for the Paris Olympics

‘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 Climbing^{FF Escalade}
Photograph: Aurélien Chen

2. Surfing Pavilion^{SURF LA KAZ}
Designer: ENSA La Réunion
Partner: French Surfing Federation^{FF Surf}
Photograph: Aurélien Chen

3. TWIGS^{LES RAM’EAUX}
Designer: ENSA Nancy
Partner: French Rowing Federation^{FF Aviron}
Photograph: Aurélien Chen

4. BLUISH IMMERSION^{IMMERSION BLEUTÉE}
Designer: ENSA Grenoble
Partner: French Canoe-Kayak Federation^{FF Canoé Kayak}
Photograph: Aurélien Chen

5. SAILING MADNESS^{FOLIE DE LA VOILE}
Designer: ENSA Marseille
Partner: French Sailing Federation^{FF Voile}
Photograph: Aurélien Chen

6. AVANT-GARDE
Designer: ENSA Paris-Malaquais
Partner: French Fencing Federation^{FF Escrime}
Photograph: Aurélien Chen

7. PUNCH^{COUP DE POING}
Designer: ENSA Paris-Val de Seine
Partner: French Boxing Federation^{FF Boxe}
Photograph: Aurélien Chen

8. THE TRIANGLE^{LE TRIANGLE}
Designer: ENSA Strasbourg
Partner: French Triathlon Federation^{FF Triathlon}
Photograph: Aurélien Chen

9. VELODOME^VÉLODÔME
Designer: ENSA Clermont-Ferrand
Partner: French Cycling Federation^{FF Cyclisme}
Photograph: Aurélien Chen

10. ATHLETICS PAVILION^{PAVILLON D’ATHLÉTISME}
Designer: ENSA Paris-Belleville
Partner: French Athletics Federation^{FF Athlétisme}
Photograph: Aurélien Chen

11. 5 SENSES OF PENTA^{5 SENS DU PENTA}
Designer: ENSA Bordeaux
Partner: French Modern Pentathlon Federation^{FF Pentathlon Moderne}
Photograph: Aurélien Chen