With professional cycling rapidly developing in the state of Sinaloa, Mexico in the last decade, there is an interest in building Culiacan’s new velodrome, as well as incorporating policies that favor cycling as a mode of transportation into the city’s plans for new public spaces. The proposal by BNKR Arquitectura channels this new found enthusiasm for cycling into a single thread that unites a professional sports building with a cycling-oriented park development. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Our proposal for a series of spiral ramps that rise around and above the Olympic velodrome in Culiacan is an attempt to connect this building, representative of Sinaloa’s competitive aspirations, with its urban context. At present velodromes worldwide are specialized facilities surrounded by large parking lots. To counteract this car oriented approach to sport complexes, we envision a complete integration with the riverside park, which it lies adjacent to.
Cycling lanes from the park are drawn into the site and begin to spiral up and around the velodrome as gentle ramps that circle above the building. The two main ramps, protected by translucent steel mesh skin, circle up and meet in a single ring at the top creating a continuous path that rises and comes back down. The total length of the journey is 3.5km. From inside and out, you can see the public cycling in the skin of the building.
From inside the cycling lanes you can enjoy the competitions or events taking place in the velodrome track or the central esplanade. It is meant to connect the amateur cycling world with the professional one, generating visibility, public interest, and strengthening both. The skin that wraps the velodrome is a continuation of the urban fabric, a living and habitable membrane, a new public space for the city.
Architects: BNKR Arquitectura Location: Culiacan, Sinaloa, México Project Leader: Laura Fontaine & Mitl Gaxiola Project Team: Emelio Barjau, Angel Rivero, Adrian Aguilar, Francisco Cruz,Diego Eumir, Paul Chavez, Marcell Ibarrola & Jaime Sol Structural Design: DAE Lighting: Noriegga Iluminadores MEP: DCP Area: 61,236 m2 Status: On going
