The gymnasium Regis Racine is situated in Drancy north east Paris. the program of this building includes: an indoor sports hall 22 meters long and 44 meters large, a dance hall, a space for local associations and dressing rooms for teams and referees. It was designed for pupils of schools and colleges of the city of Drancy area, local associations and sports clubs. The sport hall was optimized for basketball regional competitions.
© Clément Guillaume
The project was built in a complex and very enclosed residential area, 75% of the project boundary is situated in the limit of the site, therefore no openings on the facade are permitted, the gymnasium have been designed including this following constraints: – Integrating a dense program into a very limited space; – Limit the height in order to ease the integration and perception of the building into the residential surrounding, especially houses whose gardens overlook the building; – Keep the building process ongoing without intervening on the surrounding areas; – Insure a maximum of natural illumination despite a 75% opaque facade; – Create a quality inward looking spaces.
© Clément Guillaume
The building is 90 meters long and is divided into two parts : – A large wooden nave, the sports hall, its curved roof is used to limit the height of the facades in relation with the surrounding houses . This part of the building is illuminated by a large glazing poly carbonate system on roof. – a second one level part beside includes: the dressing rooms, services and the dance hall.
© Clément Guillaume
Wood, as the preferred material, was used in three different ways in order to create a specific ambiance to each space: – Wooden structure of the sports hall: in continuous crossed arcs-columns made of laminated timbers ; the rhythm created structures the illuminated parts of the roof. – Wooden structure of the hall: arches and exposed battens. – Wooden structure of the dance hall panels forming rectangular boxes.
© Clément Guillaume
Environmental optimization: – Use of sustainable and natural materials; – Increasing natural lighting; – Dual flow ventilation system; – High performance gas condensing boiler; – Low temperature radiators; – infrared lighting systems; – System of rainwater collection for watering green spaces.
Project Info
Architects: Atelier d’Architecture Alexandre Dreyssé
Country: France, Drancy
Area: 1581 m²
Year: 2011
Photographs: Clément Guillaume
Engineers: Betom Ingénierie
Client: Ville de Drancy
Project Director: Alexandre Dreyssé
Architectural Assistant: Sébastien Muller
Sophie Tremblay is a Montreal-based architectural editor and designer with a focus on sustainable urban development. A McGill University architecture graduate, she began her career in adaptive reuse, blending modern design with historical structures. As a Project Editor at Arch2O, she curates stories that connect traditional practice with forward-thinking design. Her writing highlights architecture's role in community engagement and social impact. Sophie has contributed to Canadian Architect and continues to collaborate with local studios on community-driven projects throughout Quebec, maintaining a hands-on approach that informs both her design sensibility and editorial perspective.