EUROPEAN VELO STOPS – INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION /2018
With the feeling of escape and the thrill of travel in mind, we have decided to conceive the bicycle shelter as a global experience. It includes all the basic and useful amenities needed during a short stay. Like an echo of the travellers’ experience, the idea of this shelter comes from the association of two main ideas: movement and contemplation, crossing and relief.
A string of distinct spaces composes the inside of the Monolith. Their atmospheres differ thanks to a subtle variation of volumes and the alternation of more or less intimate areas. A service corridor crosses the entire length of the Monolith to serve the different spaces. From the threshold to the observatory, the crossing consists of a progressive ascent. The guests first find an answer to their basic needs with the cooking area, the washrooms and the dormitory. They eventually access the essence of the experience when reaching the observatory, conceived as a retreat opportunity. An external sitting area completes the Monolith so guests can gather around the campfire to relax.
The open entrance creates a fascinating light shaft. It invites the visitors to cross the threshold and to walk towards the opposite end of the Monolith, through the corridor. Once inside, a peculiar ambience welcomes the guests, bewildered by the uniqueness of the space. Uneven interstices along the wall allow natural daylight to filter through and diffuse in the spaces. From the outside, the walls skillfully frame the perspective.
This project is a collaboration between GIDA and BLOOM Architecture (Brussels, Belgium).
