2024 Olympic Games | Top 5 architectural achievements

As Paris hosts the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the city is being transformed before our very eyes. As well as the sporting excitement, a real urban legacy is taking shape. Here's a look back at 5 Olympic architectural achievements that have particularly impressed us.

The athletes' village | Birth of an eco-responsible district at the gateway to Paris

The athletes' village, straddling Saint-Denis, Saint-Ouen and L'Île-Saint-Denis, embodies the sustainable ambitions of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This new 52-hectare district, designed to house 14,500 athletes and officials, will be transformed into a mixed living space after the Games. Nicolas Ziesel of KOZ architectures talked about this project in his interview with us.

Ecological innovation is at the heart of the project, with many architectural agencies involved. In addition to KOZ, Cobe, SOA, Dream, Atelier Georges, Lambert Lénack and Barrault Pressacco have worked on sector E, known as ‘Les Belvédères’. The buildings, constructed from wood or low-carbon concrete, feature timber-framed facades. Corridors link the Seine to the green spaces, creating islands of coolness. Water and energy management has been optimized, with the installation of photovoltaic panels and water recovery systems.

After the Games, the Village will become a vibrant neighborhood, with 3,000 homes, offices, shops and public facilities. This transformation illustrates the Games' commitment to leaving a lasting legacy, meeting housing needs while creating a model ecological city for the future.

The Adidas Arena | A new sports venue at Porte de la Chapelle

Imagine a place where top-level sport meets community life. The Adidas Arena, designed by architects SCAU, is the only new facility to be built in Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games. Located at Porte de la Chapelle, this 26,000 m² arena combines ambition and sobriety.

With its 8,000 seats, the Arena will host the Olympic and Paralympic badminton events. But that's not all! After the Games, it will become the playing field for Paris Basketball and a major concert venue.

What's most surprising? This imposing structure blends seamlessly into its surroundings. Its compact design and aluminum cladding give it a discreet elegance. And for local residents, two gymnasiums are integrated into the building.

The Lucie-Bréard footbridge | Transforming a broken bridge

Who would have thought that a faulty movable bridge could become the star of the 2024 Olympic Games? Yet that is the incredible fate of the Lucie-Bréard footbridge in Saint-Denis. This project is a real tour de force in terms of re-use and creative engineering.

Instead of demolishing the old bridge, SBP engineers and Explorations Architecture architects came up with a brilliant idea: to transform its 240 tonnes of steel into a modern pedestrian footbridge. The deck was renovated, raised to a height of 6 metres and fitted with new access ramps.

The result? A footbridge 52 metres long and 11 metres wide, offering exceptional comfort for pedestrians. This innovative project not only links the Stade de France to the Francs-Moisins/Bel-Air district, it also creates a truly suspended public square.

The Olympic Aquatic Centre | Between performance and sustainability

The Olympic Aquatic Centre is nicknamed by its acronym: CAD. Of course, this has nothing to do with computer-aided design software, which is on the list of essential software for architects. Even if the wink is nice. Designed by Ateliers 2/3/4/ and VenhoevenCS, CAO is surprisingly compact and innovative. Its modular 70-metre pool, which can be divided using movable walls, can be adapted to suit any competition. During the Olympic Games, it will host diving, artistic swimming and water polo.

But its most impressive feature is its commitment to the environment. Curved wooden roof, photovoltaic panels, water and heat recovery... Every detail has been thought out to reduce the carbon footprint.

After the Games, the CAO will become a public aquatic centre, offering the people of Ile-de-France an exceptional place to swim and train, in an area where many children do not know how to swim. A great way to perpetuate the Olympic spirit while preparing the champions of tomorrow!

The Ile-Saint-Denis river eco-district | A revitalised urban island

The Ile-Saint-Denis river eco-district is a project that was launched 25 years ago and has taken on an extra dimension thanks to the Paris 2024 Games. This 4.5-hectare island village will welcome 2,700 athletes this summer, before transforming into a sustainable neighborhood. The Philippon-Kalt agency has designed a car-free area, where narrow, green streets encourage soft mobility.

Ecological innovations abound: low-carbon wooden or concrete buildings, intelligent water management, abundant green spaces, etc. The project has even accelerated the creation of a noise barrier and the rerouting of power lines, which has made it possible to enlarge the future park.

Ultimately, the district will offer a mix of housing, offices, shops and public facilities, including an Urban Arts Centre. A fine illustration of how the Olympic Games can act as a catalyst for sustainable and innovative urban projects!