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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. Les Horizons in Clichy, France by B+C ArchitectesOctober 5th, 2016 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: B+C Architectes CONCEPT The brief required a building with different office configurations and spaces capable of “being transformed” in a minimum timespan and effort. Each configuration required the building to be able to create “atmospheres” and to “react” with different performances and characteristics, sometimes even contradictory ones. This for its image but also for its thermal, acoustic and even functional qualities.  Image Courtesy © B+C Architectes
 Image Courtesy © B+C Architectes The fundamental constraint with this building type is the « indetermination » of the brief which can however become its strength: its « essence ». Hence our will to conceive the building as a type of “machine” capable of “mutation”, of “transformation”, “disguise” and able to take on different “identities” according to the different uses, seasons and users.  Image Courtesy © B+C Architectes The idea was thus to translate this desire through the use of ”plants” as a façade “material”, capable of changing in time, through the day and trough the seasons, to react to changes in light and climate, in other words to “live”, to “die”, “regenerate” and even to be replaced at low cost. In addition, compared to the requirement to go beyond the “anomie” and seriality typical of office buildings, the plants allow us to “customize” its environment, its “horizon” at the lowest cost in the same way as one chooses a screen saver on a computer.  Image Courtesy © B+C Architectes For this purpose, the building in its conception is treated in all simplicity with modular, versatile and multi-functional spaces on each floor. A “planted cornice” surrounds completely each floor perimeter with a capacity to create distinct “landscapes” (according to the height and orientation of the façade) which can be maintained, modified or even replanted by the occupants as the seasons go by.  Image Courtesy © B+C Architectes Set desk top height, each cornice line becomes a “natural” extension creating at each floor a floating “horizon” interposed between internal spaces and the city outside. These elements do not simply have a “decorative” or architectural role, they also contribute to the bioclimatic control of the building.  Image Courtesy © B+C Architectes In the summer, they act as real « filters » by raising the level of humidity in the periphery of the building and bringing cooling by the use of the evapotranspiration effect. During the day, ventilation is controlled manually by the users with the simple opening of the windows and “cornices” participating in the natural cooling process of ambient air without the use of air conditioning systems. In addition the planted screen guarantees thermal comfort inside the building by acting as a natural brise-soleil reducing overheating effects in the summer.  Image Courtesy © B+C Architectes BRIEF The building occupies the total site area of trapezoidal form, completely surrounded by streets and inscribes itself through its “pivotal” position in the urban regeneration of the area designated as “city entrance” in relation with the south gate of the city of Clichy. On the ground floor, the main entrance with its hall crossing through the building is located on the South-West angle of the rue du 8 mai 1945. The ground floor facade is entirely glazed and allows light onto the car ramp access to the basement parking.  Image Courtesy © B+C Architectes With 3,50m height under ceiling the ground floor has been conceived so as to open out completely onto the public spaces. The core and vertical circulations are located on the south side so as to regroup in one compact entity the lift, the main stair , the secondary stair the communal services and technical spaces thus allowing to free-up de large working spaces for all potential users. The main stair is located on the south facade allowing natural light onto all circulations and landings.  Image Courtesy © B+C Architectes The core with concrete stair and walls gives thermal inertia and acts as a thermal buffer zone for the entire building. The external facade composed of regular modules allows for maximum flexibility in the internal partition layouts.  Image Courtesy © B+C Architectes MATERIALS The double glazed high performance facades with integrated thermal break aluminum profiles are completed externally with an exo-structure in coated steel providing support for the external brise-soleil in gold colour coated aluminum. These horizontal elements are transformed on each floor into a “planted consoles” which envelop the entire perimeter and are fitted with an automatic irrigation system.  Image Courtesy © B+C Architectes Visible from the taller surrounding buildings, the green roof is conceived as a completely planted 5th façade with all the thermal and acoustic advantages. A central volume wrapped with expanded steel cladding houses the technical plant and PV panels. The safety balustrading surrounding the roof is integrated into the brise-soleil façade.  Image Courtesy © B+C Architectes The choice of natural ventilation, the use of natural light for the office spaces with automated complementary internal lighting modulated in function of light levels (and lighting with motion detection for the communal areas and open space office areas) allows for optimal energy consumptions throughout the building.  Image Courtesy © B+C Architectes  Image Courtesy © B+C Architectes  Image Courtesy © B+C Architectes  Image Courtesy © B+C Architectes  Image Courtesy © B+C Architectes  Image Courtesy © B+C Architectes  Image Courtesy © B+C Architectes  Image Courtesy © B+C Architectes
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