French architects
Studio Bellecour
have completed a pair of office buildings near Toulouse, France,
wrapped in aluminum fins and connected by a twisting concrete element.
The horizontal fins curve around all sides of both offices to
prevent overheating in the summer and reflect light back into rooms
during the winter.
Between the two volumes sits a half-raised courtyard with landscaped gardens and an underground car-park beneath.
A steel-frame pod rendered in concrete and used for storing bikes slightly overhangs the edge of the raised courtyard.
All other photographs are by Nicolas Borel unless stated otherwise.
Here’s some more from the architects:
The project
Galilée is one of the debut projects realized in the UDZ (Urban De-
velopment Zone) Andromède, in Blagnac, near Toulouse in France.
The particular urban details of this UDZ in Blagnac provided a
unique climate for the development of a quality architectural project.
The aesthetic of Galilée results from a combination of an
interpretation of these urban rules, the immediate aeronautical
context, and from the environmental requirements given in the
specifications of the UDZ.
The plan is centered on two distinct buildings which are connected
by a long white concrete veil. The veil, the primary visual feature of
the overall plan, blends vertical and horizontal motions as it slowly
curves in a helical movement.
This veil achieves the double feature of insuring the continuity
between each building while allowing one to discover the rear landscape
in all its depth. Thus this long concrete helix, which recalls the
aeronautical context of the site, both protects the building by marking
the front of the street as well as welcomes us by its inviting view.
Two covered buildings wrapped in special insulating material and
canopies, modulated according to the illumination, confer on the
operation the environmental characteristics HEQ.
A unique formal style distinguishes and individual sizes of these
buildings. Nevertheless, the coherence and balance of the whole is
maintained by the homo- genous treatment of the façades.
The difference of shape and the resemblance of materials make
fraternal twins out of these two buildings, which works to maintain
options for future users of the space.
That is, the distinctions between the buildings would allow multiple
tenants to maintain an air of individuality while at the same time the
continuous architectural themes provide an appropriate environment for
one single occupant.
A central square constitutes the central space, the place of
privileged pedestrian access towards both halls. The square is slightly
heightened to allow for a level of half-buried parking lots organized
around a central garden with natural air circulation. A large white
concrete form looking like a shingle offers space for bikes within the
landscape.
Location: UDZ Andromède, Blagnac – TOULOUSE, France
Client: Altarea COGEDIM
Owner: Crédit Suisse
Project management Project manager: STUDIO BELLECOUR, SAS d’architecture
Architect: Wilfrid Bellecour
Team: Vincent Ballion, Julien Franco, Brice Kester, Damien Lamy, Sinda Tobni
Execution project management: BEFS Inspection office SOCOTEC Inspection office SPS SOCOTEC OPC CARI
Above photograph is by Christophe Picci
Building materials and specifications: concrete, aluminium sun
shades, exterior insulation, green roofs, basalt stone forecourt, green
trellis over car park
Building permit: november 2007
Surface area: 11 102 sq.m.
Estimated Cost: M€ 20
Construction work: April 2008
Delivery: 2010
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