Arena du Pays d’Aix

The new handball arena is situated on a freeway intersection in the south-west of Aix-en-
Provence. The façade is made up of metallic ellipses stacked like layered contours. At first
sight, the arena has no front or back- since every side of the façade is treated equally. Only
the differently arranged ellipses indicate the front of the arena. The large form embraces an
events hall for 6 000 to 8 500 spectators plus a smaller training hall. The arena reacts to the
site through geometrical modifications: the ellipses, hovering above another, arranged with a
much stronger shift towards the forecourt than to the other sides, thus forming a large
canopy to welcome the visitors of the arena. The undersides of the protruding ellipses are
illuminated to manifest the building as a whole. In the evening the lights on the undersides
additionally help to move the focus of the arena towards the forecourt.