Apartment Residential Housing - Chevreuse (78)
Capacity: 35 housing units / Location: Chevreuse (78), France / Contract type: full design services / Client: Arche Promotion / Architect: AHA - Olivier Herbez / Project leader: AHA - Tanguy Letertre / Client environmental adviser: Amodev
/ Net Internal Area: 1,938 m2 / Gross Internal Area: 2,065 m2 / Cost: €3,962,000 / Certifications: RT 2012, H&E Profil A / Status: built since December 2015
CONTEXT
This residential project is at the heart of the Regional Natural Park of Haute Vallée de Chevreuse, on a site located downstream of the Château de la Madeleine (Madeleine Castle) dating from the 11th century.
The site, bordering the Yvette river and a preserved forest, benefits from a nice setting, while presenting environmental challenges.
CHALLENGES
Environmental challenges
The main challenge of the project was its integration in the pristine environment of the Regional Natural Park of Haute Vallée de Chevreuse. Specific attention has been brought to outdoor spaces, as well as to roofing treatment in order to preserve the view from the Château de la Madeleine. The project comprises green fifth facades. It furthermore associates natural and warm tones.
Cultural challenges
As part of our project was the restoration of a lavoir (outdoor washing place) from the 17th century, located at the back of the site and at the edge of the Yvette river. We have worked with the help of Architectes des Bâtiments de France in order to use the proper original materials and give patrimonial heritage back to the city of Chevreuse.
Social challenges
The building integrates 11 social housing units. All housing units, whether dedicated to social care or private residences have been treated equally.
The city of Chevreuse favored small surface areas with the aim of attracting a young dynamic population.
USES
We have concentrated our efforts on insuring residents quality of life. Thus, we have worked in close cooperation with our client to design uncommon loggias which are emblematic of our project. Each apartment is therefore composed of tailored exterior spaces. It results in the creation of an extra room, emerging on nature and historical heritage.
In addition, terraces and gardens bring extra charm and comfort for the residents at an affordable cost –because in France, these components are being treated administratively and economically differently than indoor surface areas.
Through the creation of these new spaces, additional surface areas have been developed (about 10m2 per dwelling).
The building is equipped with underground parking spaces in order to minimize environmental impacts.
ARCHITECTURE
Although the building architecture is minimalist, the facades rest on use of high-quality materials, and attention to details.
Despite Chevreuse’s classical residential housing –illustrative of Ile de France’s classical architecture– we have successfully introduced massive and dark shapes, which are nevertheless respectful of the neighboring environment.
A self-compacting concrete with concretal lasur provides a precise finish for the loggias. The protruding window frames reveals a subtle and refined drawing. All these elements show a rich, clear and definitely contemporaneous graphical composition.
TECHNIQUE
Construction works on an unstable ground
Building on the land elected for the project was challenging due to the presence of resurgent waters. It was necessary to draw down the water table to be able to build on this land. In addition of the use of this process, it was also necessary to set up 74 piles to support the building.
Choice of materials
Concrete and stones are the key materials of this project. Concretal lasur was used to provide a bright effect. The use of concrete for a contemporaneous building in a protected site is a success. Specific attention was brought to the laying out of the form panels used to pour concrete. Rectangle-shape ironwork and locksmithing echo back the building volume and shapes.
