PROJECT DETAILS
A DUAL PURPOSE
The city of Aulnay-sous-Bois (Seine-Saint-Denis) aimed to replace its former municipal swimming pool — closed several years ago — with a modern aquatic centre aligned with current expectations and standards. This ambition converged with that of the Société de Livraison des Ouvrages Olympiques (Solideo). The resulting facility, L’Odyssée, embraces a dual purpose: a recreational water centre for families and leisure activities, as well as a training facility for swimmers selected for Paris 2024.
Winner of the public service delegation competition, the project was led by Spie Batignolles Espacéo — the original concessionaire (since taken over by UCPA) — in partnership with Spie Batignolles Île-de-France (group lead) and Chabanne Architecte, the architectural and engineering firm. The design unfolds as a sculptural structure of white concrete and metal, spanning nearly 7,000 m² with 2,600 m² of water surface — making it one of the largest in France.
Nine pools are divided between an indoor hall — partially dedicated to training and competition, and partially to family recreation — and the outdoor area, which includes a play lagoon and leisure pools. On the upper level: a wellness, balneotherapy, and fitness area. In addition to its functional offer, the facility boasts rare environmental performance for a centre of this kind, with around 850 m² of WICONA aluminium solutions installed by the company Plastalu.
ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS
Designed by the architect as a link between the industrial areas to the north and the leafy residential zones to the south, the building’s curved form acts as a protective shell — particularly against noise — for swimmers. The site’s natural slope enables the organisation of spaces across three levels: the entrance and pool areas are located on the street level, above technical rooms, and below the wellness area on the upper floor, which acts as a belvedere offering views over the landscaped surroundings and nearby residential districts.
Faced with the common challenge of energy-intensive aquatic centres, L’Odyssée successfully covers 63% of its total energy consumption with renewable sources. This is made possible by several innovative systems: heat pumps using wastewater from the street, the recovery and ultrafiltration of backwash water from the filters, among others.
The building envelope — a specific solution developed by ArcelorMittal Construction for aquatic centres — plays a significant role in the project’s performance. Equally important is the faceted pleating of the roof and the architectural design, which opens the pools southward like a circumflex accent, stretching the glazed façades and maximising solar gain. These benefits are further enhanced by the high-performance MECANO 52 curtain walls and WICONA’s WICLINE 65 OV HI frames, manufactured and installed by Plastalu.
