Voil'O'Cité
Voil'O'Cité (a portmanteau of "Voilage Olympique Cité") is a concept for satellite gyms spread throughout the Hochelaga Maisonneuve district. This project was inspired by the current situation: due to a lack of affordable fitness centers, the Olympic Park Sports Center had reached full capacity by early 2024. The fire in March caused significant property damage and led to the indefinite closure of the facilities, leaving hundreds of users without a gym and forcing them to resort to lower-quality services or much more expensive options. Voil'O'Cité is an opportunity to create a network of public outdoor micro-gyms managed in partnership with the Régie des Installations Olympiques to promote physical activity and well-being and increase the sports center's capacity.
Inspired by the biomimetic architecture of the Olympic Stadium, Voil'O'Cité pays homage to the visionary architecture of architect Roger Taillibert. A canopy, levitating above the ground in an upward motion, evokes that of the original fabric during the retraction process. The idea behind this inspiration is to create a light and elegant design that reconciles the public with a spectacular concept that was, unfortunately, too avant-garde for the technologies of the time.
Each pavilion consists of a 200-square-meter canopy made from the outer membrane of the current roof, resting on 9 modified floating masts, all tensioned by reusing 95 meters of cables that support the lower panel of the current roof. The sleeves used to tension the floating masts are positioned around the perimeter of the pavilion to anchor the cables to the ground and feature a seating surface made from reclaimed wood sourced from tree-trimming in the city.
These pavilions can be easily set up in parks, schoolyards, or parking lots to host a variety of activities such as farmers' markets, community meetings, or to serve as cooling stations.
Voil'O'Cité is a project that strengthens the RIO's presence and engagement within the community. A project that helps promote well-being and strengthen social ties. A signature project reflecting the iconic architecture of Olympic Park.
(From competitor's text)
(Unofficial automated translation)
