A fusion of fitness and sustainability, the new Arkose Pont de Sèvres climbing facility in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France has been completed by Paris-based architecture studio Atelier du Pont. In addition to its main climbing walls, which are visible to passerby from outside, the 19,375-square-foot complex contains additional fitness and yoga areas, as well as a bar, restaurant and shop.
The layout of the facility is meant to mirror a bivouac shelter in order to render more experiential journeys through the facility. “Its atypical, labyrinthine configuration suggests an immersive walk that assigns a hiking-related theme to each space,” adds cofounder Philippe Croisier. “Atelier du Pont designed a brand-new universe in this concrete environment.”
Raw, Alpine Aesthetics Confer Greener Aspects to the Project
Using repurposed furniture and bio-based materials, including wheat grain panelling, cellulose acoustic modules and locally sourced wood, the space also emphasizes sustainability in honor of the natural forms that inspire the interior landscape.
“[We] furnished the climbing complex by sourcing more than 220 pieces of second-hand or repurposed furniture and accessories from professionals and private individuals alike,” says Atelier du Pont cofounder Anne-Cécile Comar.
Upon entering, visitors can see firsthand the expeditionary tones in the design. A large bar is installed upon vertical chestnut logs sourced from the French region of Sologne. Metal racks are used as storage shelves overhead, while old climbing ropes were repurposed as curtains to add extra privacy to the space. The adjacent retail space reflects similar aesthetic choices.
In the restaurant, a 50-foot-long fresco comprising cellulose sound board in green, beige and gray tones serves as the focal point for the space. Raw, unfinished wood tables run throughout the eatery, evoking an alpine aesthetic as furnishings like mountain maps, hiking accessories and sleds complete the scene.
Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister site Hospitality Design.
