Pôle Aqualudique du Païcherou
The Païcherou wet leisure centre is located just outside Carcassonne in Southern France, between River Aude and the Bastide Saint-Louis. Its redevelopment and expansion by TAA Montpellier allowed for the creation of a 6.5-hectare sports and leisure area around it, with pétanque courts, cycle paths, picnic areas, and car parks.
The project’s architectural approach is fully aligned with the existing site. It fits seamlessly into the landscape, highlighting Carcassonne’s unique territory between the Black Mountain (north), the Corbières Massif (east), the Lauragais plain (west), and the Aude valley (south). More in detail, this wet leisure centre is on a meander of River Aude, facing the agricultural fields at the foot of Carcassonne.
The entrance hall is the focal point of the complex. Large windows and pathways make it easy for users to find their way around and see all the activities the centre offers. For example, the cardio and fitness spaces, massage rooms, locker rooms, and administrative offices are located in the northern part along the forecourt, while two indoor swimming pools (one measuring 25x15 m and the other 15x10 m for aqua fitness classes) are in the southern part. This area also includes a sauna, a hammam, sensory showers, a whirlpool, and an outdoor pool (25x21 m) with a solarium overlooking the Aude.
The Païcherou wet leisure centre consists of a concrete masonry basement around which a glass and metal structure frames the surrounding landscape and regulates the façade while supporting the glulam roof.
