Dominique Perrault wins Roland Garros
Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic… But no: this year it is Dominique Perrault who wins Roland Garros. For the 2020 vintage, there are two ways to take the title: be an outstanding tennis player, or be an architect. The Parisian architect has gone for the second option.
This year saw an architectural competition held to roof Court Suzanne Lenglen. The brief called for a retractable roof to shelter the playing area and the spectators from rain and wind.
This gain in comfort also fits in with preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympics, since the venue will host the boxing events for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
A U-shaped retractable roof
The architects at Dominique Perrault Architecture have opted for a U-shaped roof that opens onto the Bois de Boulogne. The fixed section, which will be covered with solar panels, will be built in metal with bolted connections. It will rest on four piers set outside the existing perimeter of the grounds.
The link between the existing stands and the new roof will be provided by a high-end metal mesh. Simple to install on site, the mesh will emphasise the curve of the stands.
For the retractable section, the architects have specified a PTFE fibre fabric, more precisely the architectural fabric tenara® 4t40Hft from manufacturer Sefar. According to the manufacturer, it offers "high light transmission and guaranteed flexibility for static and folding structures".
Put more simply, this fabric has higher light transmission than a polyester or PVC fabric, and it is also easier to maintain and more robust when it comes to the roof being repeatedly opened and closed. It is, however, a more expensive solution. The same fabric already covers Centre Court at Wimbledon in the United Kingdom, and it can also be found on a handful of large stadiums in Europe.
It is worth noting that the roof has been designed not only to protect against rain and wind, but also to control the shadows it casts so as not to hinder the players. So will this roof overshadow today's champions? We will find out in 2024, once the contractor Renaudat Centre Constructions has completed the works.
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- © Dominique Perrault Architecte / Adagp / FFT
- © Dominique Perrault Architecte / Adagp / RSI / FFT
- © Dominique Perrault Architecte / Adagp / TESS / FFT
- © Dominique Perrault Architecture