mission new construction – winning project
client Gironde Habitat
project manager CoCo architecture (agent to client), Jean de Giacinto architecte, IN TECH, Beige&Puychaffray
date 2009-2015
footprint 5957m²
price 8,25M€ excl. taxes
location Ilot d’Armagnac, Bordeaux (33)

The construction of this building is part of an urban renewal of the neighbourhood surrounding the Saint-Jean train station in Bordeaux, destined to become a business district. It is a pilot operation forGironde Habitat; a trial project with a focus on sustainable construction (BBC and H&E approved). It contains 60 social housing apartments; a range of studio to 3 bedroom residences, with two commercial spaces on the ground floor and basement parking for 66 vehicles.

The building runs along the western limit of the site, allowing for a garden to link the north and south end streets. The building’s volume is simple, with the programme installed in bands, treated slightly different in façade. Each apartment typology has a unique combination of openings and timber slat cladding rhythm. The composition of the facades allows for a simple reading of each typology and illustrates the variety of programmes within the building.

The entry to the apartments is through the garden, then up a lightweight walkway detached from the façade. Each apartment has an individual entrance, a platoon off this walkway. This device frees up floor space within the building permitting all the apartments to run the width of the building. The separate entrances offer greater freedom in the mixed sequences of the apartment typologies along the facade.

In addition to the Quality Housing and Environment (H&E) seal of approval, which guaranties the quality of the apartments, the building is also considered as a Low-Energy building (BBC). This has been achieved by the compact nature of the project, its external insulation, concrete structure of high thermal mass, quality finishes, electric radiators, solar panels and acoustic insulation.

Photos credits : Edouard Decam