The Sports Factory

Esch Omnisport Center - Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg

Award Winner

The project revolves around a major theme: ‘Sports for All,’ featuring an open and connected sports complex design.

The proposed sports halls are no longer conceived as “sealed boxes” but as open and generous public spaces. Visual and physical interactions between different functions are numerous. The connecting corridor immediately announces the purpose of the spaces. The “sports bar” and the “administration” areas open onto the respective sports halls with large windows. The locker room corridors maintain a strong visual connection with the halls, revitalizing what was once a somewhat dark space. The fitness and boxing areas are directly linked to the outdoor space.

The proximity of the project to the high school and the surrounding residential areas led to minimizing the visual impact of the project by giving it a scale appropriate to the location. The building features varied volumes based on their direct connection to the neighborhood. The “Dojo” part maintains a single-level height to provide nearby classrooms with unobstructed views and unchanged sunlight. The green and playful rooftop, visible from the classrooms, will be accessible during sports complex opening hours, offering recreational amenities for younger sports enthusiasts. The two sports halls are clearly distinguished by a functional block (locker rooms and storage) that minimizes the impact of such a large facility. Other functions are attached to the sports halls (Administration and fitness with the “Sports Bar”) and, with their facade open to the public space, facilitate the orientation of visitors and athletes.

The setback of the building from the high school and the roundabout marks the address of the Omnisport Center. From the square, pedestrians, curious onlookers, visitors, or athletes will have a view of the lively facades. Sports activities, such as boxing, climbing, fitness, or the bistro, are directly connected to the square either physically or visually. This square becomes a meeting, relaxation, and recreation area. Its 1500 m² surface functions as a link between the high school and the Omnisport Center. It provides access to sports facilities and the brewery. Structured to define a terrace for the brewery and a convivial area hosting an open playground for children, this space, away from traffic, allows children to play under the watchful eyes of parents seated on the brewery terrace.

A bright and generous interior street (5 meters wide) distributes all sports and recreational facilities from the square and the underground parking. This street is the “backbone” of the project, linking the old and new infrastructure coherently and harmoniously. In addition to structuring and facilitating circulation, it is considered the showcase of the sports complex. Its large windows open completely to the two new sports halls, creating a direct relationship between athletes and visitors.

The space in front of the Omnisport Center is currently exclusively dedicated to parking, and its outdoor area is not efficiently utilized, failing to enhance the location’s appeal. The rapid and anachronistic development of the Omnisport Center has obscured a strong and coherent identity. Sports halls are positioned side by side, and numerous access points and locker room blocks disrupt the organization and understanding of the current project.

To ensure the attractiveness of the sports complex and to respect existing neighboring dimensions, parking spaces need to be underground. “Removing cars” is in line with current discourse—reducing the physical and symbolic importance of cars by returning outdoor space to residents. The underground parking is linked internally to the “backbone” and provides quick access to the desired facilities.