Marchesini Headquarters in Saint Mesmes, France by LAN Architecture

Article source: LAN Architecture

The design of this project explores the relationship between the building and its surroundings, and between the users and the landscape, through environmental adaptation and appropriation within specific site conditions. The terrain slopes down three metres towards the west and offers attractive views over the neighbouring hills.

Images Courtesy Jean Marie Monthiers, Luc Boegly

• Architect: LAN Architecture
• Name of Project: Marchesini Headquarters – Saint Mesmes
• Location: Rue de la Garenne Blettée, Saint Mesmes, France
• Program: Design and construction of a company headquarters
• Client: Marchesini France
• Net Plan Area: 1000 m²
• Completion: 2008
• Photo Credits: Jean Marie Monthiers, Luc Boegly

It was important for the office spaces to open towards outdoor green spaces, to benefit from light and colours. From the standpoint of the exterior environment, we have inserted a man-made “object” into the landscape which stands as a line that simultaneously follows the skyline and the ground and therefore respecting its surroundings.

Images Courtesy Jean Marie Monthiers, Luc Boegly

The spatial programme is separated into two distinct volumes: workspaces in the upper area (the volume is raised above the ground for an impression of lightness) and the workshop volume (with a showroom, maintenance and storage areas) anchored to the ground for solidity. The intersection of these two volumes serves as the entrance, with a sloped ramp rising up into the building.

Exterior View (Images Courtesy Jean Marie Monthiers, Luc Boegly)

Interiors reflect a formal clarity, with the use of concrete and white walls, transparent doors for the offices and an overall industrial wooden floor. Interior spatial composition is structured around the presence of visual openings, which reinforces the users’ relationship with the landscape. A square window (4×4 m), among others, offers a privileged sight onto the most relevant architectural element in the landscape: the village church.

Bird Eye View (Images Courtesy Jean Marie Monthiers, Luc Boegly)

CLIENT
Marchesini Group is an international group designing and producing machines for packaging pharmaceutical and para pharmaceutical products. The production facilities are located in Italy, and the role of French headquarters is to sell and displays the machines.

Each machine is conceived as a chain or a line where products are introduced at one end and emerge packed at the other end. These machines can measure 25 m long – dictating the dimensions of the showroom. The machines arrive in France to be shown to potential customers and are removed from the site after the sale.

Exterior View (Images Courtesy Jean Marie Monthiers, Luc Boegly)

STRUCTURE
The building is made of a simple structure, with the combination of steel and concrete. The cantilever, notably, uses steel beams in conjunction with concrete walls; the envelope itself consists of a shell of concrete painted in black.

Interior View (Images Courtesy Jean Marie Monthiers, Luc Boegly)

FUNCTIONING
The showroom and open space that loges reception, administration and logistic desks are highly flexible areas in the building. The latter also serves as the main entrance in the building, connecting offices to meeting room, canteen, open terrace and services spaces. With views to the exterior, connective and transitional areas between these functions allow for informal meetings and repose for the users of the Marchesini Headquarters.

Interior View (Images Courtesy Jean Marie Monthiers, Luc Boegly)

OFFICES
Working spaces open towards the landscape; their dimensions are not standard for office environments, as ceilings are 3.5m high, allowing more natural light to enter the space and heightening pleasure and comfort at work. Furthermore, spacious surface areas are given for each office: single offices measure 24 square meters each (instead of 13.5 square meters for a classical one), while double offices measure 30 square meters, and triple ones 34 square meters.

Exterior View (Images Courtesy Jean Marie Monthiers, Luc Boegly)

SHOWROOM
The showroom develops itself in length and varies in height; the lowest part serves as maintenance space while the highest part caters to the machines exhibition. The choice of materials for the showroom was dictated by an attempt to erase the space; everything was painted in white with a concrete ground, in order to focus attention on the content of the room, the exposed machines.

Exterior View (Images Courtesy Jean Marie Monthiers, Luc Boegly)

CANTEEN AND SERVICE SPACES
The canteen located at the south of the building was conceived with a domestic dimension. It is composed of a kitchen and eating area, with access to the outside garden, wardrobe and toilets.

Images Courtesy Jean Marie Monthiers, Luc Boegly

Images Courtesy Jean Marie Monthiers, Luc Boegly

Images Courtesy Jean Marie Monthiers, Luc Boegly

Tags: France, Saint Mesmes

Category: Headquarters

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