Job search
Job Search
Latest news
More news: (showing 1 - 20 of 13976)           
UK only International

Origami-inspired 'AquaLagoon' opens at Disney and Center Parcs' nature village

By Kim Megson    18 Jun 2018
The building’s design was conceived as an origami sculpture and a 'built landscape rising into the sky' / All images Jacques Ferrier Architecture/Photo - Luc Boegly

The star attraction at Disney and Center Parcs’ new Villages Nature development outside Paris has been completed.

The practice of French architect Jacques Ferrier have completed the 9,000sqm (96,875sq ft) AquaLagoon, which houses one of the largest indoor waterparks in Europe.

The tiered pyramid structure contains wave pools, water slides and an active river alongside an open-air geothermal lagoon. Other attractions include an interactive farm, hanging gardens and adventure play areas.

The building’s design was conceived as an origami sculpture and a “built landscape rising into the sky.”

Outdoor walkways and terraces allow the public to ascent the exterior of the building and look out at the surrounding development – which includes villas, a forest and a large adjacent lake. At the top, a transparent dome allows natural light to flood the interior space, and provides swimmers below a view of the sky.

The structure's glassy form references and reflects the nearby water, and the surrounding landscape continues this theme with the presence of waterfalls, mist, steam and aquatic plants.

The direction of the winds and the path of the sun have determined the floor plan. Protected from cold northeasterly winter winds, nestling up to the forest, the aquatic park opens towards the west to make the most of cool breezes in warm weather.

Occasionally, an auditorium barge anchors in front of the building - which offers a dramatic backdrop to concerts, light shows and firework displays.

Villages Nature is a 50/50 joint venture created between Euro Disney and Pierre & Vacances-Center Parcs Group. It is situated 32 km from Paris and 6 km from Disneyland Paris.

Developed on 120 hectares (297 acres), it includes 868 cottages and apartments and a host of leisure amenities, including a spa and hammam.

Disney  Center Parc  Villages Nature  Paris  Jacques Ferrier  AquaLagoon  
Sign up for FREE ezines
Related news
Related features

Company profile

Company profile: Alliance Leisure
The company’s core business is the provision of facility development and support for local authorities, educational establishments and leisure trusts that want to improve or expand the leisure products and services they offer.
View full profile >
More company profiles

Featured Supplier

Cornerstone Connect helps Active Blackpool tackle health inequalities
Active Blackpool is deploying Cornerstone Connect, a new digital interface allowing disparate information from multiple systems to be aggregated into one dataset, to support its focus on reducing health inequalities and improving healthy life expectancy.
View full details >
More featured suppliers

Property & Tenders

Location: Stratford, East London.
Company: Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
Location: Y Felinheli, LL56 4QN
Company: Newmark
Location: Newhaven, Sussex
Company: EiA Real Estate
Location: Tutbury Castle, Staffordshire
Company: Savills
Location: Oxford
Company: University of Oxford
More properties & tenders

Diary dates

22-23 Jun 2026
WX Wakefield , Wakefield, United Kingdom
21-24 Sep 2026
The Langham Huntington Pasadena , Pasadena, United States
06-08 Oct 2026
Messe Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
22-22 Oct 2026
QEII Conference Centre, London
More diary dates