ARCHITECTURAL FOCUS
Photos : © Luc Boegly
CO ’ MET
ARENA , CONGRESS AND CONVENTION CENTER , ORLÉANS
Co ’ met brings together three distinct programs in a new and powerful architectural image . The Arena , the convention center and the exhibition center come together in a spectacular sequence along the southern entrance to Orléans . The whole constitutes a vast multifunctional facility , a unique tool for sports , culture and events . By installing the functions in a way that is both distinct and continuous , Co ’ met drastically changes the perception of the entrance to the Orleans metropolis .
As a counterpoint to the large functional volumes , the image of Co ’ met is all lightness and clarity . Its identity comes from what is there and not elsewhere . The subtle atmosphere of the banks of the Loire , a Unesco World Heritage Site , inspired a fluid and soft architecture . The undulating drape of the facade envelops the Arena and extents out over all the facilities .
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