Aqua2Lacs Aquatic Centre

Project overview:

CONTEXT OF THE REHABILITATION-EXTENSION
The aquatic complex has been refurbished as part of a strategy to develop the territory's tourism economy, combined with European environmental requirements — making it possible to give this facility a new lease of life. Perfectly integrated within its privileged natural setting, it now meets the needs of sport, relaxation and leisure for the whole family.

A PERFECT INTEGRATION
AN EXCEPTIONAL SETTING. The aquatic centre enjoys a remarkable location on the shore of Lac de Saint-Point.
COSTE Architectures, a specialist in eco-architecture, designed a facility with high environmental performance. The agency chose to capitalise on the site's major assets — orientation, views and position at the heart of a water-sports complex on the shore of the lake. The pool hall's due-west façades offer a perfectly clear view of Lac de Saint-Point, while the technical areas are oriented to the north.

A FUNCTIONAL AND COMPLETE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
In order to better address the financial and functional requirements of the brief while preserving part of the existing facility, our architectural choice was a simple, easily identifiable volume that envelops all the activities offered.
Given the exceptional quality of the natural site, our project provides a continuation of the older facility through a dual extension: that of the wellness and administration area, and that of the pool hall.
The 2 volumes attach harmoniously to the existing building through a play of curves and counter-curves. These curves naturally follow the topography of the land and contribute to integration into the site, despite its steep slope.
This project introduces softness in the visual perception of the entire complex from the surroundings, particularly for walkers along the lake shore.
The volume of the pool hall is transparent — only its slim roof traces a graceful and discreet curve. It has been intentionally designed in a compact way to limit its impact when seen from the lake and to offer the wellness area a complete panorama over the lake. This also limits the volume of air to be conditioned and improves internal acoustic quality.
The chosen materials are simple, natural and local: timber and glass.

The reception hall keeps a wide view over the lake and the new pool hall, and serves the changing rooms, the administrative spaces and the body-treatment area.
Most of the activities therefore enjoy views over the lake — the site's major asset.
The water slide is laid out in a fun and practical manner: its position cleverly uses the slope and provides direct access to the lower outdoor level.
The volume created above the existing outdoor decks naturally accommodates the service galleries and plant rooms. They are in direct connection with the pools, making the distribution of services easy.
An outdoor "Splashpad" play area, with several ground-level and overhead jets, is integrated within the mineral decks; the planted decks have been enlarged and enhanced with trees, hedges and flower beds, providing a very pleasant view over the lake.

AN ECO-PERFORMANT FACILITY
For this project, COSTE Architectures sought to take advantage of the natural assets of the site to rationalise energy expenditure — and therefore public expenditure — for the benefit of user comfort:
- Use of FSC- and PEFC-certified timber for the structure and external cladding, installation of polymerised stainless-steel pools.
- 20% REDUCTION IN ENERGY EXPENDITURE thanks to bioclimatic design, a particularly insulating envelope, abundant natural light and a heat recovery system on greywater.
- 30% WATER SAVINGS through activated-glass filtration: the backwash cycle (cleaning of the filter media) is shorter and less frequent, limiting water and energy consumption.