Grandstand Roof - Nanterre, France

Barthélémy-Griño Architectes

The city of Nanterre is located west of Paris and undertook a redevelopment of its abandoned industrial sites. Central to the masterplan were two sports grounds, one for football the other for rugby.

Each field has a grandstand that accommodates 300 and 500 spectators respectively. The reinforced concrete seating has locker rooms and service spaces beneath. Elegantly detailed timber canopies float above, protecting the spectators from the weather. The structurally complex grandstand roof consists of a string of cantilevered space frames, hung on wooden masts tied back with a succession of galvanised steel columns. The frames were prefabricated in a factory before being transported to the site. They were assembled into groups of two or three and lifted into position. Small diameter galvanised steel cross-bracing members resist wind loads. The trusses consist of ridge and valley members with two-layer side walls of Douglas fir boarding. The internal timber slats are dovetailed to the ridge members while the outer boarding has bolt connectors. The roof is clad with clear corrugated polycarbonate, giving weather protection while allowing natural light to illuminate the structure and seating below. An additional palisade, clad with vertical slats of Douglas fir, runs along the site creating a unifying identity for the project and contrasting the harsh industrial activities nearby with its natural warmth.

Location:

Nanterre, France

Reference:

Detail, 2004, Issue 1+2, pp 33–35