What was your guide idea for this project involving the renovation of building B on the IGN site in Saint-Mandé ?
Patrick Mauger : Right from the initial draft of the proposal we submitted to the project owner, we wanted to incorporate the idea of patios in order to first, open the building towards the outside, and second, create areas where the people in the building could come together while conducting their daily affairs. The final project has two and a half additional floors, achieved by adding just 3.5 meters to the height of the current building, while reducing its depth. This densification of volumes has created 3500 m² of additional net floor area, and outdoor areas of 1600 m² between buildings A and B.
What were your main preoccupations ?
Patrick Mauger : The building program features a considerable number of services areas (offices), a company restaurant, a public area (retail area, stores) and cultural and sporting facilities. This is why the quality of the work done on indoor and outdoor "common" areas, and the innovative definition of their roles and uses, were and will remain, a constant preoccupation at all times for my agency.
Specifically, we want to bring in interested parties in order to define the layout and configuration of common areas, located at each building level, this is what I call the 1% solidarity and participative component of the project.
How did you manage to create a connection, in terms of urban development and general design, between building A, located to the north of the site, and building B which you are currently renovating ?
Patrick Mauger : The first element which will create visual continuity between the two buildings will certainly be the façade, which has been entrusted to the same design bureau as for building A. The building B façade will be in a similar structural register, notably by using the same type of wood, larch, an American softwood.
We have also ensured that there will be harmony between the two buildings in terms of height and volumes.
Moreover, we wanted the public area to act as a window front, and symbolic link between the two buildings. The volume of the public area is located along the edge of avenue Pasteur, very accessible, and significantly boosting the stores located avenue de Saint-Mandé. The northern façade will feature stainless steel, and will reflect the vegetation of the garden and the southern façade of building A. |
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One can reasonably assume that this outdoor area you refer to will be subject to significant pressures and traffic; how have you approached this ?
Patrick Mauger : the development of the "Jardin des dunes et des vents" garden, which will be visible from avenue Pasteur, acting as a type of echo to "Square Alexandra David-Neel", was entrusted to the landscape developer Sophie Barbaux, who has spent several years working on urban residential areas, and in particular their functionality and interaction with the general public. She got involved in my project at a very early stage by proposing a selection of planted features, as well as areas of circulation and parking/resting, fitted out, whose purpose is to extend indoor areas toward the outdoors.
The roofs of the extensions located to the east and the west of the renovated building, along an incline slope for added perspective, will also be planted. Together with the trees (snake skin maples) and grass plants sets, they will create a set of colors and harmonies changing with the seasons.
For you, what are the special features and the most striking technical aspects of this project ?
Patrick Mauger : it would have to be the "frame façade" covering the rehabilitated building and its extensions. Factory built, it guarantees a perfect level of sealing. The wooden uprights form extra high frames containing top-performance glazing, screen-printed glass sills and ventilation shutters. To the south and west, the frames are fitted with movable blades, in treated glass, thanks to which we can control the solar heat gains and the penetration of natural light.
You are known for your commitment to sustainable building; what has this meant for the IGN project in Saint-Mandé ?
Patrick Mauger : in addition to the main points already mentioned, the building will respect THPE standards (top-level energy efficiency). In this regard, one of the major technical features will be the natural ventilation system: 4 thermal chimneys on the roof will be used to control the indoor temperature through the circulation and evacuation of indoor air, according to the season, sunlight level, and natural inertia of the building. The individualized operation of ventilation shutters and hatches on the windows and partitions of each office area will create nocturnal "air currents", used to considerably cool down the public areas as well as each work area.
The heating and cooling system will be mainly driven by geothermal technology and hot water partially heated using a photovoltaic system on the building roof.
We will also be focusing, right from the start of the project, on minimizing the disturbance caused to users and locals. We have also set up a highly demanding system to manage waste generated during the partial demolition of the building.
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