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Architects: François Leclercq, Zakarian-Navelet Architectes: François Leclercq and Zakarian-Navelet Architectes
- Area: 5000 m²
- Year: 2008
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Photographs:Céline Michelon
Text description provided by the architects. The red office building is part of the global town planning project EUROMED in Marseille. In an ill-asserted and growing environment our project demonstrates continuity and simplicity. Continuity is based on a permanent architectural dialogue with the renovated neighbourhood. Simplicity is achieved by restricted use of materials and creation of elementary volumes.
The building is a classic construction with a basement, a main section, and a setback attic. The ground floor fully covers the rectangular plot and is laid out for the reception hall and the computer rooms. It is surrounded by a matrix raw concrete façade with a glazed anthracite grey colour.
The main section, where the office rooms are located, has a u-form around a planted courtyard. The structural concrete façade is processed in a binary rhythm “full and empty” of 2,70 lm breadth elements. The concrete slabs jut out around the building and are equipped with red aluminium sliding frames.
The system composing the shutter-window-concrete wall is designed to support thermal stress and the heat of the sun in the South of France. Each user is therefore able to adjust the room temperature and sunny atmosphere according to his own wish and without using air conditioning. The attic is set back from the front and shows a linear volume at the top level. It is processed in the same material as the neighboring buildings: sheeting on a metal structure with strip shutters opening on to a wooden terrace.
In summary, we intended a construction in accordance with the Mediterranean context including energy savings and banishing glass structures. Answering with simplicity and interacting dialogue with the historical harbour site, our project is calling to be the roots of the development of the new EUROMED area.
