On the Vendée coast, in the Loire region bordering the Atlantic, the Multiplex Aquatique Saint Gilles Croix de Vie is located in Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez. Designed by the BLP Brochet Lajus Pueyo studio, it seems to immerse itself between the salt flats of the Natura 2000 landscape and the Vie river, in harmony with the surrounding nature

Designed by the BLP Brochet Lajus Pueyo studio, the architecture is characterized by the sinuous shape of the roof composed of three petals that evokes the undulations of the water and the ripples of a moving manta ray, while a peripheral mesh structure surrounds the area of ​​the four indoor pools, circumscribing the large glazed spaces of different heights. Inside, the mesh of the facade filters the light, creating reflections and allowing you to benefit from natural lighting; the ceiling, consisting of an exposed structure with a hidden fastening system and 1,400 micro-perforated triangles, shapes the curve, allowing you to optimize the acoustics; the introduction of a metal mesh has also made it possible to avoid the insertion of load-bearing columns inside the structure. The overhangs of the roof, combined with a special treatment of the windows, allow protection and solar shading for greater comfort even during the summer season, without sacrificing the view of the landscape.

The aquatic center has four swimming areas, the arrangement of which in succession has been designed taking into account the best use of sunlight throughout the day: a 25-meter sports pool arranged over five lanes, a fun and learning of two lanes complete with counter-current swimming and bench and beds with hydromassage jets, one for children with water games, one for other water activities. The establishment includes a solarium, a wellness area, two saunas, a hamman, a cold water well, a Jacuzzi, an indoor sunbathing area and an outdoor 25-meter pool.

All the indoor pools have been clad with Casalgrande Padana porcelain stoneware slabs from the Landscape collection in Ocean and Tundra colors, in Grip, Friction and Rigata anti-slip finish and equipped with the innovative Bios Antibacterial antibacterial technology that cuts down the four to 99.9%. main bacterial strains present in confined environments: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis.

To bring out the main structure that houses the swimming pools, all the changing rooms and technical rooms were placed in an adjoining building and were built in raw concrete to blend in with the surrounding landscape. The white metal structure, the light floors, the light concrete walls and the wooden slats harmonize with the landscape: an architecture of nature, dynamic and with a strong identity.