Designed by ANMA to act as a natural machine, the new headquarters of the Ministry of Defense, located in southwestern Paris, includes a health center, restaurants, media and sport centers as well as a crèche. This complex structure, designed around the strictest security requirements, is the largest public building to be built in France for 20 years. The structure aims to present an image of the armed forces, not only as a protective force, but a strong and stately force as well. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The building’s façade alternates between both transparency and opacity via horizontal slat work, providing both intimacy and transparency. The wings of the building are built on stilts surrounding internal courtyards under a vast origami-like roof made of angular sections. The project will bring together all of the main bodies of the French armed forces ( Army, Air force, Navy) on one site.
The building features an advanced energy management system which goes well beyond the requirements of recent green building standards.80% of the heating, cooling and hot water requirements will be covered by sustainable energy sources and techniques produced on site. The angular roof culminates in three major chimneys which will be complimented by three secondary chimneys which will ensure that all of the offices will be naturally cooled. 7000m2 of roofing will harvest solar energy. This system will enable the production of ~ 10 kWhep/m²/year and will be the largest solar roof in Paris. The building will function naturally and autonomously for 10 months a year. The building will be HQE® (Equivalent LEED) certified.
Architects: ANMA Location: Paris, France Engineers: IOSIS Concept Elioth, IOSIS Conseil, IOSIS Client: Opale Défense Consortium for the French Ministry of Defense Project Type: Complete Ministry complex Gross Internal Area: 145,000m2 Estimated Cost: 145,000,000 € (Before tax) Competition: 07/2009 – 02/2011 Studies: 02/2011 – 07/2012 Construction: 02/2012 – 09/2015 Delivery: 2015
