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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. 99 housing units in Luxembourg by PETITDIDIERPRIOUX ArchitectesNovember 28th, 2019 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: PETITDIDIERPRIOUX Architectes In Luxembourg, the French architect duo PETITDIDIERPRIOUX are currently developing several ambitious projects. The first to be delivered, the 99 units of Domaine du Kiem, situated on the Kitchberg plateau, is a true testament to Cédric Petitdidier and Vincent Prioux’s meticulous approach. Particular attention was paid to the relationships between inside and out, function and appearance, private and public.  Image Courtesy © Sergio Grazia
 Image Courtesy © Sergio Grazia Environmental Certifications: Passive Hauss (passive buildings) Residential Units And Business District The first affordable real estate programme of its kind, initiated by the Kirchberg Fund, this 99-unit project is a response to the government of Luxembourg’s housing policy: revitalising a business district concentrating almost exclusively professional properties, including European institutions and office buildings, by developing salubrious and affordable new housing units accessible to the large majority. This project was made possible thanks to an original method of contract attribution: a plot of land and an associated architectural project approved by the developer are offered for sale to a buyer who acquires the rights to build and operate the project through a 99-year perpetual lease. This financial model made it possible to cut the selling price in half and offer a programme of great architectural quality at a reasonable price.  Image Courtesy © Sergio Grazia  Image Courtesy © Sergio Grazia Shared Garden And Built Environment The perspective of building a real estate programme offering subsidised housing on the Kirchberg plateau demanded that the controlled nature of the shared garden and the built environment be reconciled into a consistent whole. PETITDIDIERPRIOUX has done so while offering optimal comfort for residents thanks to a design that is generous and open, both to the city and the centre of the plot. The project is comprised of two strong typologies: on a triangular plot, two long and dense collective buildings stretch along the boulevard, while three semi-collective buildings with compact massing and fewer units on each floor sit in the garden. The project consists of successive strata stacked on top of a base: one green, natural, changing base, and one massive, built, mineral base, that support the body of the buildings. All entrances to the parking garage “dive” underneath the greenery in the centre of the plot, and the roof of the garage itself consists of a slab entirely covered by vegetation. The two collective buildings show clear South-facing massing, opening towards the centre of the plot. Housing units are provided with wide balconies offering the best orientation and view.  Image Courtesy © Sergio Grazia  Image Courtesy © Sergio Grazia Materials And Treatment Of Facades Materials were chosen first and foremost to emphasise volumes and define different atmospheres depending on context. The general atmosphere of the project is determined by the use of materials boasting a range of contrasted colours: imprinted concrete, plaster, wood, metal. In this case, the choice was made to have the concrete walls insulated from the outside. The bases are rendered in dark imprinted concrete, which contributes to capturing the light and tying the building to the ground. The two collective buildings, which are taller than the other three, incorporate an intermediate floor on the street side. Clad in wood in a natural shade, it serves as a boundary between the massive base and the smooth body of the building, which features light colours, clean lines and a dynamic treatment of fenestration. This natural look is a nod to the shared garden and the pergolas on the street side. Wood can also be seen on the back walls of loggias in all three semi-collective buildings, creating a sense of depth and light. The upper floor facades are also rendered in light-coloured plaster. Vegetable patches and pergolas made from metal and wood provide environments for people to meet, store their things (gardening tools, compost), and park their bikes. Unique places that bring about new uses and help tighten the social fabric.  Image Courtesy © Sergio Grazia  Image Courtesy © Sergio Grazia Exteriors Shaped By The Seasons The exteriors have been designed to offer a wide range of possible uses and allow complex relationships to form with public and private spaces. This diversity of treatment supplies each unit with a unique identity. The private patios on the ground-floor units provide valuable quality space for the duplex flats. While balconies boast far-reaching views of the surroundings. As for loggias, they give residents access to exteriors sheltered from the wind and rain. In winter, the sun’s trajectory is lower than in summer, thus allowing sun rays to reach the large floor-to-ceiling windows and naturally heat the interiors. In summer, the facades are shielded by the balconies and loggias, ensuring optimal comfort for the residents during the warmer months.  Image Courtesy © Sergio Grazia  Image Courtesy © Sergio Grazia Openings Onto Nature On the North facade, where the bedrooms and bathrooms are located, windows open horizontally, framing the landscape that stretches out in front of them. Towards the South and the centre of the plot, openings are larger and made along a vertical plane, to maximise the inflow of sun light and allow residents to enjoy the beautiful and relaxing view of the shared garden. This also contributes to reinforcing the connection 6 with private outdoor spaces such as patios and balconies.  Image Courtesy © Sergio Grazia  Image Courtesy © Sergio Grazia Typologies And Organisation The organisational principle of the layout was based on the desire to optimise the orientation of all units. For the main two collective buildings, three naturally lit, vertical circulation cores serve each floor, from the cellars, laundry room and parking garage in the basements to flats on the top floors. The larger duplex units are all located in the bases, creating the opportunity to leave space for double-height living rooms and play on the size of the openings to suggest movement on the garden-side facades. Typical floors are divided into one-, two- and three-bedroom units. Each typical floor consists of four dual-aspect flats and four corner flats on either end of the building. Each floor landing serves one, two or three units at the most. The design for the three semi-collective buildings follows the same organisational principle: one vertical circulation core and two units on each landing (one two-bedroom and one three-bedroom). Only the layout of the top floor differs from one building to another (one two-bedroom and one three-bedroom or one four-bedroom and one one-bedroom, or one two-bedroom and two one-bedrooms). The corner loggias also provide each unit with diverse pleasant views of the park. As a result, each unit has at least one South-facing wall, which ensures optimal inflow of sun light into the family rooms. Image Courtesy © Sergio Grazia  Image Courtesy © PETITDIDIERPRIOUX Architectes  Image Courtesy © PETITDIDIERPRIOUX Architectes  Image Courtesy © PETITDIDIERPRIOUX Architectes  Image Courtesy © PETITDIDIERPRIOUX Architectes  Image Courtesy © PETITDIDIERPRIOUX Architectes
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Tags: Luxembourg Categories: Apartments, House, Housing Development, Residential |
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