Social housing, Fulton, Angers
Fulton building is a social housing project wich recieves all public and more especialy; seniors. In the context of city center, Angers municipality was looking for a better transports proposition and wanted new propositions about urban density. Fulton takes place in a borough undergoing urban changes. Therefore the project conception has been based on those observations and in our wish to offer better acces to the town for seniors and quality of living for all in urban context.
The project is located near the Angers St Laud train station. Moreover, there are rails way next to the Fulton project.
All housing units are built on the Votier’s road, enjoying the sun direct illumination from South-West. On the other side, this implantation offers a nice view from flats to the courtyard composed by a communal garden.
There, different grass type ("graminées" in french) are planted and can grow until one meter height. We choose them for their double aspect, they need just few maintenance (some water, they resist really well to insects), and they vary of color each season. From a pale green in summer, they change for fawn or blond tones in winter.
This tallness creates private spaces along the pathway where you can sit for pause contemplation of nature and landscape.
The plan forms a L-shape, akin the traditional structure block of « maison de ville » (townhouse). The building is composed by five vertical volumes creating an aestetic pleasing play with the loggias depth. Volumes have different tall to imitate de Angers uneven skyline.
The ground floor is one meter higher than the street. This soft shift preserves the snugness of the flats.
The loggias are the second device wich ensure the inhabitant privacy. Thoes comfortables spaces are regulary plugged, bringing a graphic and light contrast with the bulding.
Only one material has been used for the elevations and the roof. So, the corrugated iron unifies the whole building in a same flowing movement. This material can change depending on the sun illumination. Fulton can take a white metal aspect or an opalescent one with the light and sunshine.
