An ecological pilot project for leisure and sport
Coudoux, a commune of 4,000 residents between Marseille and Aix-en-Provence, combines rural tranquillity with proximity to the city. Recently, the commune has welcomed the addition of an extraordinary multipurpose hall for the local tennis club. The linear, open design of the wooden structure blends harmoniously into the Mediterranean environment.
The term “multipurpose hall” hardly does justice to the architectural quality of the new-build by Atelier Régis Roudil from the neighbouring town of Aix: the rectangular wooden structure stands out for its remarkable lightness. This is created by the bi-folding glass doors on the two long sides of the wooden structure, which free of any supports on the inside. Thanks to their delicate wooden profile structure, they provide a clear view of the tennis courts from a distance, even when the structural elements are closed. But when they are fully opened and pushed to one side as narrow bundles of glass, they create the impression of an open gatehouse with high spatial quality. This impression is further reinforced by the 40-centimetre-high concrete plinth, bordered with natural stone, which makes the building appear to rest on a pedestal.
The architectural firm gave particular thought to the choice of material: Apart from the plinth and parts of the insulation and sun shading, the entire building is built from local Aleppo pine. For many years, this type of wood was largely displaced from the market. With the new-build, the commune of Coudoux and Atelier Roudil have set a clear signal for the renaissance of this local material.
Bi-folding glass doors as a concise design element
The bi-folding glass doors are the central architectural design element – and allowed the desire for fully opening doors on both sides to be realised, creating a space that interacts with the landscape. The Woodline wood and glass bi-folding door system Solarlux was chosen for the design. The wooden profiles made of glued laminated, high-quality wood blocks offer exceptional transparency and underline the building’s architectural lightness with their sight lines of only 143 millimetres. Architect Régis Roudil was not only impressed by the high manufacturing quality, but also by the high functionality and effortless handling of the structural elements. In his own words, the system allowed him to preserve the architectural identity of the project while harmoniously integrating modern structural elements.
