Decathlon 2026

Decathlon sought to develop a testing facility where equipment manufactured and sold in its stores could be evaluated on-site—across sports fields, a pool, and specialized fitness areas.

DODA.A responded with a proposal for a high-performance, environmentally efficient building. Positioned near a wind farm, the building is oriented to maximize sunlight exposure. An Olympic sized pool sits on the rooftop, its glass bottom allowing daylight to filter into the interior below and reducing the need for artificial lighting.

DODA.A’s inspiration for the center was the podium—an enduring symbol of sport. Here, the concept is turned on its head, literally: the building form reinterprets a podium flipped upside down, revealing the “backstage” nature of product testing. The structure consists of a steel post-and-beam frame clad in undulating mirror-polished stainless steel.

The interior is organized around a double-helix ramp, symbolizing the upward journey of an athlete immersed in Decathlon’s ecosystem. In the basement, a drone-based logistics and storage hub anticipates the future of delivery systems.

This project is a showcase of purposeful architecture: functional, resilient, and fully dedicated to the rigorous demands of the Decathlon team.