Wikipedia

Piscine patinoire de Boulogne-Billancourt

Piscine patinoire de Boulogne-Billancourt[1] (lit. 'Boulogne-Billancourt Pool and Ice Rink') is an administrative ensemble consisting of two neighboring but physically separate sports venues located in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France, just west of Paris. The ice rink is home to the ice hockey section of multisports organization Athletic Club de Boulogne-Billancourt, which was one of the sport's most prominent West European representatives in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Boulogne Billancourt Pool and Ice Rink
Piscine patinoire de Boulogne-Billancourt
LocationRives de Seine Quarter
Coordinates48°49′49.87″N 2°14′29.18″E / 48.8305194°N 2.2414389°E / 48.8305194; 2.2414389
Main venueIce rink
Other sports facilitiesSwimming pool
OwnerCity of Boulogne-Billancourt
OperatorRécréa

Ice rink

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Patinoire de Boulogne-Billancourt
La Fédérale
 
Former namesPatinoire fédérale de Boulogne-Billancourt
Address1 rue Victor Griffuelhes
Capacity1630 (seated)
2288 (total)[2]
Field size60 × 30 metre[3]
Construction
Opened21 December 1955
ArchitectLouis Saint-Calbre
Main contractorsAnciens établissements Eiffel
Tenants
AC Boulogne-Billancourt (1955–present)
US Métro (195?–1971)
CSG Paris/CSG Molitor (1955–1974)
ASPP Paris (19??–19??)
Paris HC (1955–1961; 196?–196?; 1988–present)
HC Lions de Paris (1961–196?)

History

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Ice sports have a long history in the Boulogne-Billancourt area, as the lakes of the Bois de Boulogne were a favorite destination of skaters during the 19th and early 20th century.[4] The lakes were also a prime source of commercial ice for the food and restaurant industries, much of it extracted by the sector's leading company, the Société des glacières de Paris (lit. 'Paris Ice Houses Company'). As the industry moved from natural to artificial ice at the turn of the twentieth century, the company opened its main ice factory in nearby Billancourt (which later fused with Boulogne-sur-Seine to form Boulogne-Billancourt).[5]

According to figure skating coach Jacqueline Vaudecrane, she was instrumental in securing the new building in a meeting with France's then ministry of sport, using leverage gained from the victory of her student Jacqueline du Bief's in the 1952 World Figure Skating Championships.[6][7] However, the municipal archives of Boulogne-Billancourt state that preliminary work had in fact started several years before, at the behest of Jacques Lacarrière, general secretary in charge of ice hockey at the French Ice Sports Federation (which administered the sport before it became independent) and federation president Georges Guérard, as downtown Paris' Palais des sports de Grenelle was showing serious signs of aging. The rink's actual backer was grocery store heir Philippe Potin, who contributed much of the development costs.[8]

The construction site was selected due to its proximity with the Société des glacières de Paris building, which would act as the rink's ice supplier.[5] The company was approached in 1948 and greeted the idea with enthusiasm, as it would provide a valuable source of income outside of the busy summer season. The city of Boulogne-Billancourt gave its approval in 1951 and donated the terrain.[8][9] Construction work took place from 1953 to 1955.[9] It was built by Anciens établissements Eiffel (lit. 'Former Eiffel Establishments'), the successor company to Gustave Eiffel's original firm G. Eiffel & Cie. The gig was part of the company's efforts to reposition itself as a general contractor in the industrial and recreational markets, as metal—its speciality—was taking a backseat to concrete in large infrastructure projects.[10] The building was formally inaugurated on 21 December 1955.[11] Due to its direct affiliation with the French Ice Sports Federation, the ice rink was originally known as Patinoire fédérale (English: Federal Ice Rink) or just "La Fédérale".[12][13]

Following Jacques Lacarrière's death in 2005, there have been periodic efforts to rename the rink after him. Mayor Jean-Pierre Fourcade expressed his support, but the political majority changed and the project was never seriously considered again.[14][15] On December 17, 2019, a plaque was unveiled to commemorate ACBB's three wins in the famed Spengler Cup invitational tournament at the turn of the sixties.[16]

Design

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The rink was designed by Paris-based architect Louis Saint-Calbre, an ice sports competitor himself. Its most distinctive feature was perhaps its roof supported by six 51-meter-wide arches, and made of translucent polyester panels that extended onto the building's west side.[17] The main hall was originally adorned with a monumental analog scoreboard on the west side, and a large analog clock on north wall, both made by Longines.[18] The clock is still present but the scoreboard has been removed. Most administrative offices were located on the first floor.[6] Although it has sometimes been called a Patinoire olympique, its ice sheet seems to fall slightly short of traditional Olympic requirements, with listed dimensions of approximately 60 m (200 ft) by 29 m (95 ft), and a listed surface of 1,711 m2 (18,420 sq ft).[19]

The rink was originally connected to the Société des glacières de Paris via an underground tunnel, which carried ice or coolant from the factory to the venue. As cold rooms had by then supplanted much of the business, the ice factory closed in 1974 and the rink now uses a standalone refrigeration system. The public park that today borders the rink, and occupies the land where the ice factory once stood, bears the name Parc des glacières (lit. 'Ice Houses Park') in remembrance of the area's historical background.[5][20]

In 2002–2003, in conjunction with a remodel of the adjacent swimming pool, the rink was given a major makeover. The original translucent roof was replaced by a better insulated one made of metal, while the translucent panels on the west side were replaced by a full glass wall.[19][21] The office space was also restructured, although the general shape of the building was kept intact due to its architectural value.[22] During the renovation, ACBB's men's hockey roster plied its trade in Paray-Vieille-Poste, as part of a joint team formed with the local club.[23]

Resident organizations

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The rink hosted the headquarters of the French Ice Sports Federation (FFSG) for fifteen years.[9] It was also home to the Ligue des Sports de Glace Île de France (a division of the FFSG overseeing the Paris Region specifically) from the division's creation in 1969 to 2004.[24]

The Federation's national figure skating school founded by trainer Jacqueline Vaudecrane moved to Boulogne-Billancourt from Sporting Victor-Hugo,[7] and hosted such athletes as Alain Calmat, Alain Giletti, Patrick Péra and Surya Bonaly, most of them registered with the ice sports section of Athletic Club de Boulogne-Billancourt.[6] In 1998, the rink welcomed the ice skating section of another multisports group, Paris Olympique Club, which was created that year, largely to accommodate figure skater Laëtitia Hubert after she and her coach had a falling out with Français Volants, Paris' historic ice sports club based at Patinoire Sonja-Henie.[25]

The first speed skating event histed by the rink was a standalone event celebrating its inauguration, on 29 December 1955.[13] The venue once housed a speed skating club chaired by André Kouprianoff. Speed skating activities were organized under the names C.P.C.P. (Club de Patinage de Course de Paris)[26] and C.E.P.G.[27][28]

Prior to the wave of ice rink openings that accompanied 1968's Grenoble Olympics, Boulogne hosted most hockey teams in the Paris Region. The first hockey game played at the venue pitted Paris HC against CSG Paris (later known as CSG Molitor).[18] Other featured teams included hometown side ACBB, US Métro (which moved to Viry-Chatillon in 1971 as Jets de Viry), Association sportive de la Préfecture de police de Paris and the short-lived Lions de Paris. Even though he was one of the driving forces behind the venue, Jacques Lacarrière frowned upon having to share ice time with so many tenants, and opted against bringing back his own club, Français Volants (which was then on hold). The Volants would only reform in 1965 with the opening of Palais de la Jeunesse et des Sports in Charenton-le-Pont.[29]
Boulogne also hosted a brief revival of the Coupe Jean-Potin, an invitational hockey tournament created by Philippe Potin's father Jean Potin, which had enjoyed popular success before and immediately after World War II at the Palais des sports de Grenelle.[30]

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On 2 January 1972, the rink hosted a special edition of :fr:Télé-Dimanche (lit. 'Sunday TV'), French television's leading weekend variety show, whose set was built atop the ice. On this occasion, the program was exceptionally renamed Télé-Dimanche sur glace (lit. 'Sunday TV on Ice').[31][32] Several popular singers of the day performed their current hits on ice skates, including Claude François ("Il fait beau, il fait bon") and Sylvie Vartan ("Non je ne suis plus la même"), although most appeared to lip sync.[33][34]

On 25 April 1974, the ice rink hosted a major rally for presidential candidate Jacques Chaban-Delmas, in presence of fellow politicians like André Malraux and Michel Debré, as well as celebrities such as TV host Guy Lux. This happened to be the first political rally attended by future president Nicolas Sarkozy, and inspired him to pursue a political career.[35]

Notable events

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Swimming pool

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Piscine de Boulogne-Billancourt
 
Location165 rue du Vieux-Pont-de-Sèvres
Opened1 November 1962
ArchitectHenri-Pierre Maillard
Paul Ducamp
Former name(s)Piscine du Stade Français
Length25 metre (pool 1)
25 metre (pool 2)
Width20 metre (pool 1)
12,5 metre (pool 2)
Features
Water slide
Facilities
Fitness center
Spa

History

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The swimming pool is located immediately to the west of the ice rink. It was built between 1961 and 1962,[37] and inaugurated on 1 November 1962.[38] It was originally the property of multisports club Stade Français,[39] although the organization faced financial problems at the end of the 1960s and there were talks of closing it.[40] Stade Français eventually sold the venue, which became city-owned, and relocated to the new Centre Charras in Courbevoie in 1973.[41][42]

In the 1980s, the pool hosted the Meeting International de Natation de la F.F.N., successively title-sponsored by swimwear brands Arena and Diana Sport, which was described as the world's most important short course meet at the time.[43][44] In 2014, former Olympic champion swimmer Laure Manaudou hosted the debut fashion show of her swimwear brand LM Design at the venue.[45]

Design

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Beginning in 1957, the base concrete design was laid out by architects fr:Henri-Pierre Maillard and Paul Ducamp of Atelier d’architecture MD, who cornered a large segment of the market during France's post World War II swimming pool boom. In 1960, engineer fr:Stéphane Du Chateau joined the project and added his proprietary Système SDC,[46] a metal arch system previously used at the Grandval Dam. The resulting design was considered an evolutionary step towards the popular Tournesol model that would become ubiquitous in the ensuing years.[47][48] In its original configuration, the building housed an eight-lane, 33-metre pool on its main floor, inside a square-shaped 40 × 40 metre hall.[49] A mobile wall separated a typically 25-metre long competition area from a smaller teaching area.[9][40] A small slide was also on offer.[9] A lower level featuring a sauna and a multisports room, from which portholes originally allowed a view of the adjacent underwater area.[50]

The facility received a major restructuring between 2001 and 2003, estimated at €16 million,[51] under architect Thierry Nabères of Paris-based firm TNA Architectes, in conjunction with a refurbishment of the neighboring ice rink. On this occasion, the original pool was shortened from 33 to 25 metre. The remaining area was fitted with a separate play pool, part of which extends outside. A new building was also built from scratch: the street level offers a second 25-metre, five-lane pool and children's areas, while a new 50-metre slide replaces the original. The operation took the overall water surface from 660 m2 (7,100 sq ft) to 1,260 m2 (13,600 sq ft).[52][53][54] The upper floor is dedicated to a spa and a fitness center.[21][55][56]

Notable events

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  • Meeting International de Natation de la F.F.N. (19??–????)

References

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  1. ^ "Piscine-patinoire - 92100". societe.com (in French). Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  2. ^ Bilan de l'activité des sous-commissions (PDF) (Report). Commission consultative départementale de sécurité des Hauts-de-Seine. 14 December 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Piscine municipale et patinoire de Boulogne-Billancourt". sportenfrance.fr (in French). 29 December 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  4. ^ Demory, Hubert. "Le patinage au XIX° siècle" (in French). Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "Les Glacières ou l'histoire d'une industrie révolue". boulognebillancourt.com (in French). 27 June 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Mortier, Yves (21 April 2006). "Boulogne ravive les mémoires". Le Parisien. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Faraut, Julien (director) (2010). Mémoire d'entraineur : Jacqueline Vaudecrane – Patinage artistique (video interview). Mémoire orale (in French). INSEP.
  8. ^ a b "Racines: la 'Fédérale' de Boulogne-Billancourt". La Ligne Bleue (in French). No. 4. Issy-les-Moulineaux: Fédération française de hockey sur glace. Archived from the original on 31 December 2009.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Emblématiques lieux de sport". Boulogne-Billancourt : terre de sports (in French). City of Boulogne-Billancourt, Municipal Archives. 5 September 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  10. ^ Carouge, É.; Vandecavez, Emmanuel; Brumain, René; Piernas, Gersende. "Répertoire numérique 1875 – 1969" [index]. Eiffel, p. 5. Roubaix: Archives nationales du monde du travail.
  11. ^ "Paris possède une nouvelle patinoire". Le Monde (in French). 22 December 1955. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  12. ^ a b Alric, Tristan (29 October 2021). "Les liens étroits de la NHL avec la France". hockeyhebdo.com (in French). Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  13. ^ a b "Course Inauguration Patinoire". speedskatingnews.info. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  14. ^ Alric, Tristan (12 March 2021). "L'histoire des noms de nos patinoires". hockeyhebdo.com (in French). Retrieved May 29, 2023.
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  17. ^ Monin, Éric. "Une histoire à portée de main. Des composants du second œuvre dans l'architecture des Trente Glorieuses" (PDF). CoRé : Conservation, Restauration du patrimoine culturel. No. Hors-série 2020. Lille: Université Lille Nord-Europe. p. 101.
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  19. ^ a b Bossut, Olivier (27 August 2003). "La canicule retarde la réouverture de la patinoire". Le Parisien (in French). Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  20. ^ "Les Glacières". levillagedebillancourt.fr (in French). 15 March 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  21. ^ a b "Boulogne : réouverture de la piscine". lemoniteur.fr (in French). 5 December 2003. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
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  23. ^ Bergognon, Julien (26 September 2002). "Athis-Paray brise la glace". Le Parisien (in French). Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  24. ^ "Ligue des Sports de Glace Ile-de-France". pappers.fr (in French). Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  25. ^ Behar, Marianne (18 July 1998). "Laëtitia Hubert au POC". Le Parisien (in French). Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  26. ^ "Club de Patinage de Course de Paris" (in French). Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  27. ^ "Competition: Coupe CEPG". speedskatingnews.info. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  28. ^ "Competition: Coupe du CEPG". speedskatingnews.info. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  29. ^ Alric, Tristan (21 May 2021). "Pourquoi le hockey a perdu son 'Paris'". hockeyhebdo.com (in French). Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  30. ^ a b c "Paris, AC Boulogne-Billancourt". eishockeyblog.ch (in German). Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  31. ^ "Télé Dimanche – sur glace du 02-01-1972". Melody TV. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  32. ^ Marcillac, Raymond (producer); Antoine (host); Les Charlots (hosts); Fabre, Denise (host) (23 July 2012) [2 January 1972]. Claude Moléna à la trompette et Ballet sur glace (archive footage) (in French). Paris: ORTF. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  33. ^ François, Claude (guest) (22 April 2018) [2 January 1972]. Claude François "Il fait beau, il fait bon" à la patinoire (archive footage) (in French). Paris: ORTF. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  34. ^ Vartan, Sylvie (guest) (17 March 2023) [2 January 1972]. Sylvie Vartan à la Patinoire de Boulogne Billancourt (archive footage) (in French). Paris: ORTF. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  35. ^ Nay, Catherine (17 January 2007). Un pouvoir nommé désir. Paris: Grasset & Fasquelle. ISBN 9782246680093.
  36. ^ Briard, Gaëtan (25 July 2020). "Hockey sur glace. Il y a vingt ans, le coup de griffe des Léopards de Caen". Ouest France (in French). Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  37. ^ Steel Congress 1964: Progress in Steel Construction Work. Luxembourg: High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community. 1965. p. 587.
  38. ^ "La piscine du Stade français a été inaugurée". Le Monde (in French). 2 November 1962. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  39. ^ "Piscine du Stade Français, à Boulogne". Aujourd'hui – Art et architecture. Vol. 6, no. 37. Boulogne. June 1962. pp. 78–81.
  40. ^ a b G.F. (7 February 1969). "La piscine de Boulogne-Billancourt risque d'être fermée". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  41. ^ Maudet, Thierry; Dièvre, Yann (September 2014). Rapport relatif à la Fédération française de natation (PDF) (Report). Ministère de la Ville, de la Jeunesse et des Sports – Inspection générale de la jeunesse et des sports. p. 19. 2014-M-23. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  42. ^ "Le Club". sfoc.fr (in French). Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  43. ^ "IV – Meeting Arena" (PDF). Comunicado. No. 5. Federação Portuguesa de Natação. 18 February 1981. p. 2.
  44. ^ "Meeting Diana 84 (2ème Meeting international d'hiver Diana Sport – 11ème Meeting international de la F.F.N." (PDF) (Press release). Férération française de natation. February 1984. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  45. ^ Thierry P. (22 June 2014). "Laure Manaudou lance sa collection de maillot de bain et offre des invitations à son défilé". lapromessedunstyle.fr (in French). Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  46. ^ Javary, Christelle, ed. (1996). "Du Chateau (Stéphane), ingénieur et architecte français (1908)". Dictionnaire des inventeurs et inventions (in French). Larousse Bordas. p. 309. ISBN 2037500157.
  47. ^ Chaljub, Bénédicte (1 March 2011). "Piscines Tournesol". Architecture Mouvement Continuité. Groupe Moniteur. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  48. ^ Caroux, Hélène; Charpin, Philippe (2003). "Stade nautique Auguste Delaume". seinesaintdenis.de (in French). Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  49. ^ Emery, Marc; Goulet, Patrick (1983). Guide architecture en France 1945–1983 (in French). L'Architecture d'aujourd'hui, Groupe L'Expansion. p. 77. ISBN 2904833005.
  50. ^ Fillault, Jean-Pierre (22 May 2020). "Souvenir des dojos de Boulogne". aiki-adventure.com (in French). Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  51. ^ "La piscine va fermer de cinq à neuf mois pour travaux". Le Parisien (in French). 14 November 2009. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  52. ^ "Restructuration de la piscine/patinoire – Boulogne-Billancourt (92)" (PDF) (Press release). Châteauneuf-sur-Loire: Baudin Chateauneuf. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  53. ^ City of Boulogne-Billancourt (2014). "Concession de services pour l'exploitation de la piscine et de la patinoire municipales de la ville de Boulogne-Billancourt". tourisme-espaces.com (in French). Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  54. ^ Rapport d'observations définitives et sa réponse – Commune de Boulogne-Billancourt (92) : Gestion de la piscine municipale cahier n°2 (PDF) (Report). Chambre régionale des comptes d'Île de France. pp. 14 December 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  55. ^ "Restructuration et Extension – Piscine de Boulogne-Billancourt". tna.fr (in French). TNA Architectes. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  56. ^ O.B. (27 August 2003). "La piscine dans trois mois". Le Parisen (in French). Retrieved April 2, 2023.
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