Athletics Stadium Tussols-Basil and 2x1 Pavilion

Along the river that separates the city from the natural park lies an area called Tussols/Basil, for which we designed a sports and recreational complex that is an architectural response to the situation between the natural park and the artificially created city. So far, we have built a part of the trails, a bathing pavilion, a 2x1 pavilion, and an athletic track. This athletic facility is embedded in the natural environment, highlighting the landscape values of the surroundings and drawing athletes closer to nature. The track is nestled in the middle of an oak forest. The forest right next to it, the forest in the background, and in the distance—such are the relationships between the greenery, the track, and the escalating rows of small terraces in the clearings.
The land consists of clearings in the middle of the oak forest separated by volcanic intrusions. The large dimensions of the athletic track posed serious challenges in finding a suitable placement. We decided to openly reassess the way the track functions and returned the running figure back to the natural environment. The forest made the facility visible. We took on the project amidst serious debates between athletes on one side and conservationists on the other. The former did not want a single tree in the facility, while the latter did not want a single tree to be cut down.
The trees in the middle of the running circuit are a filter that changes with the seasons. From an opaque filter to a semi-transparent one, and finally to a translucent filter. If we dare to go further, we will see that something more hides in the distance: space opens beyond the limits of knowledge. The cleared clearings in the oak forest have now transformed into positive places that exceed their boundaries. Lights, watchtowers are on guard and emerge from the tangle of trunks. Embankments and small terraces complete the topographical adaptation of the project and serve the public. The towers establish spatial references.