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The Aquatics Centre is the only permanent sports facility to be built for the Paris 2024 Games, under the authority of the Metropole du Grand Paris. In 2024, it will welcome the world’s greatest athletes for the artistic swimming, water polo and diving events. Looking beyond the Games, the Aquatics Centre has been designed to address the needs of Seine-Saint-Denis, its host region, and the French swimming community, which will now have a facility that can host the biggest national and international competitions.

It will connect to the neighbouring Stade de France over a footbridge spanning the A1 motorway, and is a meaningful public investment for Seine Saint Denis, which is seriously lacking in sports facilities today. The Aquatics Centre’s novel configuration will be modular: it will be able to switch from a 5,000-seat venue during the Games to a 2,500-seat facility to host neighbourhood events afterwards.

The Aquatics Centre will be low-carbon and all the building materials will be bio-based. Its timber structure and roof frame are thought out to blend seamlessly into the surrounding greenery. With a 5,000 sqm roof covered with photovoltaic panels, it will be one of France’s largest urban solar farms and supply all the energy that the Centre needs.

The interior fittings will be made of recycled materials – and made in France to showcase the country’s expertise in environmental performance.

Capacity: 5,000 people