A Sneak Peek at Paris 2024's Innovative Sport Pavilions

While not a Hospitality House, we thought readers of the House Party blog would be interested in this groundbreaking cultural project planned for Paris 2024, which is associated with Club France.

Introducing Archi-Folies 2024

What happens when you bring together the worlds of sport and architecture?

In late 2021, the French Minister of Culture, Rima Abdul Malak announced the "Archi-Folies" project at Parc de la Villette at Paris 2024. A first at the Olympic Games, 20 national schools of architecture have been invited to design and build 20 pavilions, each dedicated to a national sports federation for the promotion of its sport.

From La Villette website:

Archi-Folies 2024 is a rare opportunity for architecture students to experiment with design-construction and to put into practice a new constructive culture in line with the ecological transition. This design work also echoes the Folies – red buildings scattered every 120 meters and which draw a grid of landmarks across the entire site – designed by park architect and project sponsor Bernard Tschumi.

Video courtesy of La Vallette.

The Pavilions

Each of the 20 pavilions will be dedicated to, and hosted by, a French sports federation. According to reports, each federation will be responsible for activities and activations, including sports demonstrations that will be open to the public.

According to this Archi-Folies 2024 brochure, the following federations will be represented...

Athletics: Fédération Française d'Athlétisme Archery: Fédération Française de Tir à l'Arc Badmington: Fédération Française de Badminton Basketball: Fédération Française de Basketball Boxing: Fédération Française de Boxe Canoe Kayak: Fédération Française de Canoë Kayak Cycling: Fédération Française de Cyclisme Dance: Fédération Française de Danse Equestrian: Fédération Française d'Équitation Fencing: Fédération Française d'Escrime

Gymnastics: Fédération Française de Gymnastique

Mountaineering & Climbing: Fédération Française de la Montagne et de l'Escalade Pentathlon: Fédération Française de Pentathlon Moderne Roller & Skateboard: Fédération Française de Roller & Skateboard Rowing: Fédération Française d'Aviron

Rugby: Fédération Française de Rugby

Sailing: Fédération Française de Voile

Surf: Fédération Française de Surf

Table Tennis: Fédération Française de Tennis de Table

Triathlon: Fédération Française de Triathlon Wrestling: Fédération Française de Lutte

Renderings

In Summer 2023, select students came together at l'Ecole nationale supérieure d'architecture Paris-Malaquais on the left bank in Paris to exhibit their pavilions.

Archi-Folies 2024 Exhibition. Courtesy of French Ministry of Culture.

Archi-Folies 2024 Exhibition. Courtesy of La Villette.

Archi-Folies 2024 Exhibition. Courtesy of French Ministry of Culture.

Location & Inspiration

The Archi-Folies 2024 pavilions will be scattered across Parc de la Villette, inspired by architect Bernard Tschumi who is widely considered the "design father" of Parc de la Villette. About the project, Tschumi was quoted in November 2022:

"The project is exciting in that it is entirely faithful to the spirit of the park at the time of its design. ... Architecture is, in my opinion, as much about space as it is about movement and events. The Olympic Games combine both movement and event. In other words, the students will build something complementary to the spirit of the park."

Archi-Folies 2024 at Parc de la Villette. Courtesy of the French Ministry of Culture.

The sport pavilions will sit alongside several Paris 2024 Hospitality Houses in the North East Cluster: Canada House, Casa Brasil, Club France, TeamNL House, Pride House and Slovenia House.

Dates

From our understanding, the 20 pavilions associated with Archi-Folies 2024 will assembled and open starting in Spring 2024. They'll be open to the public, and free, through the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

In Fall 2024, they'll be disassembled, transported and permanently donated to the partnering national sports federations at a location of their choosing.

Will you visit the Archi-Folies pavilions at Paris 2024?

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  Yes! I wouldn't miss them.
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  I haven't decided yet.

More details to come about Club France and Archi-Folies 2024...