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Architects: Avenier Cornejo Architectes
- Year: 2014
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Photographs:Julien Lanoo, David Foessel
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Manufacturers: Alucoil, Isosta
Text description provided by the architects. The architectural firm, Avenier Cornejo, has just completed a crèche for 66 children in the 20th arrondissement of Paris. The crèche is located in the new Fréquel Fontarabie district, where the public pathway meets the square. It is a unique building which adds to the identity of the neighbourhood. Being one of the first places that children discover outside their own family unit, a crèche needs to provide a reassuring atmosphere where children can grow and prosper. The crèche is there both to protect children and help them discover the world around them.
Façade & Materials
The aim was to design a delicate and discreet building that would fit neatly into the triangular plot of land. The building is clad in a fine lacework façade that forms a protective layer of perforated metal panels designed to unify, adorn and filter. This delicate layer reacts to changes in light. For acoustic and thermal reasons, the structure of the building is made of concrete and lined with insulation and metal cladding.
The perforated metal covering creates an array of lighting effects and acts as a filter for the rooms behind it. The garden and terraces are easily accessible through large glass doors. In order to comply with local urban planning regulations and fulfil the design specifications, the crèche is spread over two floors. The layout takes the neighbouring courtyards into consideration, while the main rooms are located on the sunny side of the building.
Layout
The entrance of the crèche is on the northern façade, where the square is located. The lift is situated in the entrance hall. The central hallway is designed to absorb the irregular angles of the building. Given the length of the building, a patio was built into the plan to provide natural sunlight for the service facilities. The patio also provides thermoregulation, particularly in summer.
The service facilities, which require access for deliveries, are located along the hallway, alternating with the other rooms. The garden area at the back of the plot is planted with a maple tree and various bushes, and provides and exit to the public pathway. The living quarters can be found in an apartment on the 2nd and 3rd floors. This apartment has both a north and a south façade. It can be accessed via a separate entrance, but shares the same lift as the crèche.
