Grands Moulins Sports Complex in Épernon

The practice Ligne7 Architecture has completed the "Les Grands Moulins" sports complex in Épernon, in the Eure-et-Loir département. The project was delivered with Egis (multidisciplinary engineering consultancy), TN+ (landscape architect), ABC Decibel (acoustician) and Ecco 38 (quantity surveyor). The complex houses a boxing hall, a cardio room, two fitness studios and a gymnasium for judo. The project totals 2,400 m² of gross floor area (SHON) at a cost of €4 million excl. VAT.

The site

Épernon is a small town of 5,500 inhabitants between Rambouillet and Chartres. The project stands on the edge of the town, close to new housing and the railway line. The site is surrounded by small detached houses and is served by a short, curving street. The plot is bounded on the other side by a modest river, the Drouette.

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The architectural project

The scheme is built on a concrete base that contains the circulation and service rooms of the sports complex. The sports halls then extend the project above it as simple timber-frame volumes. With their slatted treatment, the façades play on transparency while also offering privacy from outside view during activities.

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Materiality

The building is wrapped in Siberian larch battens (30 x 60 mm), whose colour now blends with the stone walls of the neighbouring houses. The west façade is mostly clad in 16 mm Everlite Dampalon twin-wall polycarbonate. It lets natural light in and, as will be noticed, carries a digital print that helps the building sit better alongside the river. The same material is used for the glazed roof. The floor of the hall, made by Kemco under the Design Dekoral brand, is poured in situ and tinted with natural pigments.

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