Located on the outskirts of Paris’ 20th arrondissement, the Angélique Duchemin Sports Centre, designed by Graal Architecture, stands as a vital addition to one of the city’s most underprivileged neighborhoods. Situated between a well-known street-art hub and towering social housing buildings, the center serves both functional and communal purposes. Developed through close consultation with local stakeholders, it is part of Paris’ first urban development zone (ZAC), established in the 1970s.
The structure runs parallel to a pedestrian alleyway, standing out with its 45 meter opaque masonry wall that anchors the facility. The design accommodates multiple functions, including a dojo, a weight room, and community spaces, all housed above the solid base. These facilities are complemented by four sports fields, two of which are covered, creating an expansive recreational area. The widened alleyway at the junction with Rue des Cendriers offers a new public space, mixing the center into the neighborhood’s hilly streets and contrasting with the towering social housing nearby.
Minimalist Volume and Functional Materials
The sports centre’s heated areas are enclosed within a simple, white-metal-clad building. Its unembellished design extends to a translucent polycarbonate structure at the rear, which houses the covered courts. Despite its size, this second building integrates into the recesses formed by the adjacent housing blocks. The architecture emphasizes efficiency, with a hangar-like structure that supports a variety of flexible uses.
The covered courts feature open partitions, reducing their form to essential components, while the uncovered fields are defined by translucent fencing. This interaction between solid and transparent materials dissolves the spatial boundaries, encouraging openness. The simplicity of the materials, white metal, polycarbonate, and cinderblocks, creates a dynamic environment through light and texture.
Functional Design Over Decorative Elements
The architectural concept prioritizes usability and cost-efficiency over decorative complexity. The choice of materials reflects this ethos: cinderblock partitions, recycled aluminum curtain walls, and visible ventilation ducts. The structure’s white exterior contrasts with its deep blue interior, a deliberate design for the dojo to foster focus and concentration.
Natural light filters through the first-floor joinery, creating a calm and functional atmosphere for combat sports. The low-angle light avoids glare while emphasizing the importance of the floor in martial arts. This practical approach eliminates the need for suspended ceilings, keeping costs low and maximizing ceiling height.
Carefully placed breezeblocks fill the ground-floor areas, such as the boxing hall, community space, and changing rooms, with light. Thoughtfully crafted joints and visible network designs, from ventilation to lighting, elevate these industrial materials.
A Platform for Community Interaction
The sports centre by Graal Architecture, acts as a hub for both athletic and community activities. Its white metal mesh fields and grey breeze-block walls recede into the urban fabric. This allows local practices to shape the space. The alleyway, known as “graffiti street,” serves as an informal gallery for community art. It emphasizes the area’s cultural importance.
By maintaining a straightforward architectural language, the facility encourages a sense of ownership among its users. The design prioritizes function while leaving room for community engagement, offering a flexible space that evolves with the needs of its surroundings.
Program: Construction of a dojo, a boxing room, and four outdoor sports fields, two of which are covered
Location: 21 Rue des Cendriers, 75020 Paris
Client: City of Paris
Surface: 740 m² building, 1 050 m² covered terrain, 580 m² uncovered terrain
Budget: 3 600 000€ HT
Schedule: design 2018-2020, construction 2021-2024
Design team: Graal Architecture (lead architect, OPC), LGX (all trades, economics), A2Csport (sports consultant), Travaux Pratiques (signage)
Construction team: Picheta (asbestos removal, demolition), Cabrol (structural work, framework, cladding, roofing), Plastalu (exterior carpentry, metalwork), Sorbat (partitions, plasterboard, false ceilings, interior carpentry), T.E.P. (flooring), Pougat (painting), BSMG (heating, plumbing, ventilation), Afilec / Bouygues (electricity, photovoltaic), NSA (elevator), Nouansport (sports equipment), Les paveurs de Montrouge (VRD)
Photo credits: Clément Guillaume
