A new velodrome redefines public space in most innovative city.Medellín, Colombia —2013— The Institute forSport and Recreation (INDER Medellín) has just signed a contractto construct a new velodrome in Medellín, the second largest cityin Colombia recently declared the World Most Innovative City Wallstreet Journal.
The design of the velodrome was selected from apool of 15 submissions following an international architecture competition. The winning submissionis a collaboration between a team of architects in New York and Barcelona (Cristina Goberna, Urtzi Grau, Ignancio González Galán, Farzin Lotfi-Jamand Bryce Suite) and an architecture office in Bogotá (El Equipo de Mazzanti).
The design is comprised of an innovative roof structure which will simultaneously house the racing arena and provide shelter for the adjacent public plaza. A foldable façade wraps the entire arena and can be fully opened during non-competition periods to allow for greater openness and public space.
“The design of the New Velodrome City of Medellín synthesizes two seemingly incompatible spatial conditions: The insularity of the sport infrastructure and the permeability of the public space” explained the members of the team.
“Three elements define the public space of the new velodrome. The platform provides continuity of the pedestrian park. The facade vanishes during periods without competitions. The light roof dissolves the perimeter of the building.”
“The roof provides programatic and environmental support both to the velodrome and to the public space. Each of its modules follows the structural models developed by French engineer Le Ricolais.”
CREDITS Fake Industries Architectural Agonism, Farzin Lofti-Jam, Ignacio González Galan, Bryce Suite
