contained in the momentary pavilions of the Paris Olympics with photographer Aurélien Chen

Aurélien Chen captures Archi-folies on the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games

French architect and photographer Aurélien Chen affords a take a look at the 20 ephemeral pavilions designed to accommodate sports activities federations in the course of the interval Paris 2024 Olympic Video games. In his final PHOTO challenge, Chen captures the Archi-Folies 2024 challenge, a part of the Cultural Olympiad, which was accomplished by the Ministry of Tradition in collaboration with the Nationwide Graduate Faculties of Structure and Panorama (ENSA). Inaugurated on June 13, 2024, at Villette Park, these pavilions function assembly factors between structure and sport. Their progressive designs embody the Olympic values outlined by the Paris 2024 Video games, which emphasize being iconic, inexperienced, engaged, equal, inclusive, sober and unifying.

all photos by Aurélien Chen

For the development of the pavilions, the Ministry of Tradition referred to as on the 20 nationwide greater colleges of structure and panorama (ENSA). This progressive challenge of an unprecedented scale is a golden alternative for architectural college students to use their creativeness, the know-how acquired throughout their research and to apply “constructive tradition”. The collaboration of every ENSA with a sports activities federation is a chance for college students to work on the creativeness of sports activities and to face the act of constructing. After a 12 months 2023 devoted to the architectural design of the pavilions, the 12 months 2024 is devoted to their manufacture. The operation echoes the spirit of the well-known “fools” that made architect Bernard Tschumi's popularity and that punctuate Parc de la Villette.

As a way to notice their initiatives, the scholars, accompanied by their lecturers, additionally expertise a large collaboration with the completely different actors and companions of the challenge. With the sports activities federations, to start with, to replicate the id of the welcome sport as finest as doable, making the place as purposeful as doable. Then, along with the challenge leaders and primary companions – the Ministry of Tradition, La Villette, Grands Ateliers, the French Nationwide Olympic and Sports activities Committee (CNOSF) – to determine the regulatory framework of the operation, to trace the financing of the various sponsors, and coordinate the varied prefabrication and development phases.

Attending to the “life-size” development means forcing your self to consider the materiality of the pavilions. So as to add a bit extra to the dimensions of the problem offered by Archi-Folies, architectural initiatives, anxious to be consistent with the ecological transition, thus respect the constraints of supplies and strategies. They have to be exemplary and provoking structure, made with progressive or reused supplies, demonstrating the power of faculties to innovate within the face of environmental points. Consistent with the Paris 2024 Legacy and Sustainability Plan, the pavilions can be dismantled and relocated after the Olympic and Paralympic Video games for the advantage of native authorities and different companions. Some federations even intend to have them to advertise their self-discipline.