Prix Versailles selects World's Most Beautiful Sports Venues & Passenger Stations for 2024

The Prix Versailles has presented its lists for World’s Most Beautiful Sports Venues and Passenger Stations, celebrating the most outstanding new designs in either sector globally as part of the UNESCO-sponsored prize's 2024 edition.

Leading the group was the new Aquatics Center design for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris from VenhoevenCS Architects and Ateliers 2/3/4. They will go on to compete against the other category winners for the three 2024 World Titles (Prix Versailles, Interior and Exterior). 

Jérôme Gouadain, Secretary General of the Prix Versailles, said of the sports group that each "capture[s] the attention of their audiences, who feel close to them, whether they are near or far. As a result, celebrating the World’s Most Beautiful Sports Venues means encouraging their social, cultural and ecological responsibility." He added that the designs in the Passenger Stations group were equally "essential component[s] of our living environment."

More details for each winning project can be viewed below.The official 2024 Prix Versailles laureates will be announced via a live ceremony from the UNESCO Headquarters at the Place de Fontenoy in Paris on December 2nd. 

Passenger stations

Schafbergbahn Station in St. Wolfgang, Austria by dunkelschwarz

Description: "The Schafbergbahn, which has been in service since 1893, is Austria’s steepest steam-powered cog railway. It runs 5.85 kilometres from St. Wolfgang in the valley to the top of Schafberg Mountain, which stands at an elevation of 1,783 metres and boasts breathtaking 360° views. The trip is a bucolic journey that takes 35 minutes each way. 

The experience begins and ends at the same station (at an elevation of 542 metres) whose original structure was reinterpreted and revitalised by the firm dunkelschwarz. The public areas – the lobby and ticket office, gift shop, restaurant, etc. – occupy a bright concourse looking out over Lake Wolfgang and the mountains, while an outdoor terrace gives passengers the chance to experience the elements. The 'industrial' vocabulary of the atmospheric material pays homage to history. At the same time, the building’s design and the use of warm wood offer all the modern conveniences in terms of services and comfort. A 'pleasure railway station' – or ErlebnisQuartier – with powerful charms."

Bell Station in Melbourne, Australia by Wood Marsh

Description: "In the sprawling expanses of Australia, level crossings become a boundary, if not a scar, when cities catch up with history. This was the case of Melbourne, where a vast urban design and landscape plan was launched. Born of the talent and imagination of the Wood Marsh studio, Bell, in Preston, is part of a new generation of elevated railway stations. It stands out for its concrete façade – a nod to the heritage-listed housing ringing the site – and a three-dimensional pattern representing the roofscape of the city of Darebin.

Multi-coloured glass windows filter the light, spreading a gentle yet invigorating atmosphere throughout the concourse. In a blend of culture and preparedness, a public amphi- theatre doubles as a flood basin. Part of Greater Melbourne, this project was by no means short on ambition, whether in terms of inclusivity or ecology, as evidenced by the many lawns and strips of native plants surrounding the entrances. This amazing structure is helping to breathe new life into the urban landscape by flawlessly embodying the concept of intelligent sustainability."

Grand Central Madison in New York, NY by AECOM

Description: "It’s hard to imagine that, 43 metres below posh Park Avenue and more than 27 metres beneath Grand Central Terminal, you can find Grand Central Madison, the biggest expansion of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) in a century and a major feat of engineering. It was bold undertaking for a colossal project involving AECOM, that aimed to provide a smoother commute to Manhattan, namely by diverting traffic away from Penn Station.

While Grand Central Madison’s architecture is, above all, an act of technical prowess, it also delivers a truly unexpected visitor experience. Moving along a wide concourse and a mezzanine that’s as vast as it is bright, travellers gradually make their way into abysses papered with unique works of art, treating them to an extraordinary, magical journey. The selection of pieces is spectacular, featuring commissioned digital art, Poetry in Mo- tion exhibits on massive LED screens, a permanent photography display, live concerts and the latest technological systems. Simultaneously understated, contemporary and artistic, what could be a better tribute to the trendy charms of the Big Apple?"

Beijing Station in Beijing, China by WIT Design & Research

Description: "In 1959, a decade after the People’s Republic of China was founded, the Beijing Station was built. At the time, the country had a population of around 670 million people, whence the gargantuan scale of the building for the times. The station’s architecture employed the traditional Chinese style although, in a context of scarceness, the architects and craftsmen had to make do with the limited resources at their disposal. The interior renovation, orchestrated by WIT Design & Research, offers a chance to rediscover the depth and finesse of the skills of a people writing their own history, with each outer wall a work of art in glass.

In one of the waiting rooms, the leather seats are even the same green as the originals in the 1950s, coming full circle with a nostalgic touch. More surprising though is the fact that, once the facilities and amenities were brought up to date, the original monumental spaces proved to be perfectly sized for the capital city of a country whose population has doubled. A real gem."

Chiaia Metro Station in Naples, Italy by Uberto Siola/Peter Greenaway

Description: "In connection with Uberto Siola’s architectural project, Peter Greenaway’s artistic contribution extends throughout the new station, taking part in a mythological descent into the heart of the city. Each level is associated with a mythological deity and a colour. A sculpture of Jupiter with 24 arms signals the entrance.Below the surface, in shades of white and blue, is a well dedicated to Neptune, measuring 12 metres in diameter. Along the staircase spiral- ling downwards, passengers can read a verse by Ovid: Est in aqua dulci non invidiosa voluptas ('in pure water there is a pleasure begrudged by none'). 

Farther underground is an area devoted to Ceres, organised in a square grid. In this setting dominated by green, reproductions of statues from the Naples National Archaeological Museum’s Farnese Collection are on display. An ochre-coloured passageway dedicated to Proserpina leads to the last level, in Pompeian red, which is crowned by a steel dome with a circular skylight at the centre, allowing natu- ral light to filter down to the platforms. 320 eyes represent the gaze of Pluto, King of the Underworld, staring out at adventurous travellers passing by."

Toulouse Matabiau Station in Toulouse, France by BIG with A+ Architecture

Description: "In 1905, the architect Marius Toudoire explained that Toulouse Matabiau Station, which he created, took the form of a new 'palace.' Over a century later, the contemporary architects at AREP had to comb through the archives, diving into the station’s many metamorphoses, before they were able to locate any images of what is now a listed building.The metal frames, the awnings and the mouldings were restored, the missing capitals were recreated out of fibrous plaster, and the monumental woodwork on the side facing the Canal du Midi were all directly inspired by the ones that were designed for the original station. 

The challenge was then to glorify a historic building whilst bringing its accessibility and its passenger services up to date. Inside, the choice of colours and materials adheres to the goal of understatedness, with a mirror polish reflecting travellers’ movements and lights from the shops enhancing the dynamics and the activity of the place. The station’s resolutely modern architecture is characterised by precision and airiness."

Sports Venues

Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA by Populous

Description: "Gillette Stadium has undergone the biggest and most dramatic improvements since it first opened in 2002. One symbol of this transformation, carried out by Populous, is a 360° observation deck at the top of the venue’s iconic lighthouse, which stands 66 metres tall. That deck provides sweeping views of a completely reinvented facility for the entertainment of its supporters.The entrance to the stadium is now a real pedestrian path, inspired by the meanderings of the New England region’s salt marshes and rocky shorelines. 

As concerns the stadium itself, this renovation keeps the venue at the cutting edge of technology and maximises the fan experience for current and future generations. And a monumental staircase leads to extremely welcoming spaces.Located behind a giant (2,100 m2) video board, the new club atrium is revolutionising stadium hospitality. The use of silvery tones – a New England Patriots’ signature colour – joins the town’s lighthouse in a brilliant metamorphosis."

Workers' Stadium in Beijing, China by the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD)

Description: "Built in 1959, the Workers’ Stadium is a monument whose image and structure form a heritage that is near and dear to the population’s hearts. More than just restoring its original external look, in accordance with industry standards, this project looked to the future for its upgrades. The Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD) came up with a subjective concept of 'digital disclosure', putting technology to work for the experience and comfort of 68,000 spectators. One example of this is the parametrically designed canopy, which provides functions such as shading, lighting, water drainage, snow melting, photovoltaic power generation and sound absorption.

An underground area was excavated for the creation of modern shopping spaces, and the irrigation of lawns and other greenery is now connected to the urban drainage system. This world-class renovation is an invitation to celebrate, under the amazing lights and animations that now set the building aglow on match nights."

CityPark in St. Louis, MO by HOK and Snow Kreilich

Description: "CityPark is the country’s largest sports campus dedicated to soccer (football), located in the centre of St. Louis, Missouri. This 32-acre development in the Downtown West neighbourhood has been a catalyst for revitalisation. Built on a vacant lot, this project connects the iconic Union Station and the Gateway Mall – a block-wide strip of greenery open to the public – to the city centre. 

The site looks out over the city and boasts excellent connections to public transport and to pedestrian and cycling pathways. In terms of the structure itself, the brilliant strategy adopted by the firm HOK was to excavate the land to a depth of 12 metres below street level in order to accommodate back-of- house services via an underground tunnel, to reduce the size of the stadium. The idea was also to give passers-by a glimpse of the action from the pavement outside. Mission accomplished: more than just a stadium, this campus has become a part of the daily lives of all St. Louisans. A wonderful expression of inclusivity, indeed."

Olympic Aquatic Centre in Saint-Denis, France by VenhoevenCS and Ateliers 2/3/4 

Description: "Across the road from the Stade de France, a wooden sculpture has emerged from the landscape of the Metropolis of Greater Paris. The Olympic Aquatics Centre, designed by VenhoevenCS and Ateliers 2/3/4, is a new architectural signal and the only major sports facility to be built for the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics. Its spacious yet compact architecture was ins- pired by nature, with the aim of making it both coherent and receptive. 

This facility is part of a new urban park. In addition to featuring 100 or so newly planted trees, its wooden structure was built to be low carbon, thanks in particularly to the use of bio- sourced and recycled materials.Its concave, outstretched frame is a world first that instils the venue with its magic and its identity. Beneath that delicate ripple, light floods the entire space, so that any spectacle unfolding there becomes a most captivating event."

Hybrid Stadium in Hangzhou, China by Archi-Tectonics

Description: "Hybrid Stadium, also known as the Gongshu canal sports park gymnasium, was designed with versatility in mind, so it could host multiple disciplines of the Asian Games and the Asian Para Games, which mainly took place in Hangzhou in autumn 2023. The facility is set apart from a field hockey pitch, known as the Hangzhou Umbrella, which was also conceived by the design studio Archi-Tectonics. The two venues are there, like two pebbles, sitting not in a river but in a 195,000 m2 park.  

Following one Chinese scholar, 'Philosophers say the smooth expanse between nodes re- presents virtue, a long distance between faults, and the hollow interior bespeaks modesty and humility.' Here, that 'long distance' has been transformed into charming, tree- filled gardens.The oval shape of the stadium was inspired by the cong, an ancient jade artefact from the Liangzhu culture. And its walls, made of a grid of steel and glass, are reminiscent of fish scales. Like an organic entity, the stadium self-regulates its ventilation based on information received from sensors, allowing for the natural circulation of air with minimal artificial cooling. At the heart of a sprawling urban park – the lyrical green lung of a new activities centre in Hangzhou – the stadium turns into a magical lantern when night falls and promises a revitalised cultural future for the city." 

təməsew̓txw in New Westminster, Canada by hcma architecture + design

Description: "The mission of təməsew̓txw aquatic centre in British Columbia is to be the heart and soul of its community. Located in the outskirts of a residential neighbourhood to the north of the Fraser River, this facility relies on the topography of its terrain, an old ravine in need of rehabilitation. At first glance, the structure and its unifying roof appear to be woven horizontally into the landscape. But the interior reveals vast, tall spaces: the swimming areas are monumental pools where concrete, wood and light cohabitate in harmony. Plentiful public areas under- score the facility’s community purpose, as well as its goal of offering visitors an experience on a human scale. 

This intelligent concept from hcma delivers a sporting infrastructure that is connected to the site’s natural and cultural environments. For the record, təməsew̓txw means 'sea otter house' in Halkomelem, the language of the First Nations people in whose territory New Westminster is located."