Town Hall extension
The town hall extension in Chaillé-sous-les-Ormeaux is defined by a simple composition of volumes. The design focuses on scale, refinement of elements and their connections to the context. The structure and appearance of the proposed building are informed with an awareness and respect for its programme and location. The use of locally produced bricks defines the character of the new addition and accentuates the relationship between land and the symbolic importance of the building. The building envelope is wrapped in a perforated brickwork screen and filters light through generating a distinct atmosphere.
The extension is detached from the communal hall and opens to the west to redefine the public space. This interstice creates a visual connection with the town hall and the adjacent school. Produced locally, the brick naturally established itself as the core element of the project, allowing the natural material qualities to give character to the overall appearance. This idea is accentuated by the use of customized manufacturing and implementation, providing the building with a high degree of passive insulation. The structure is entirely made of concrete and wrapped in a perforated brickwork screen. The relationship with the economy and the ecology of production and transportation was also one of the decisive factors for the sustainability of the project. The south façade, between the marriage hall and the schoolyard, is a singular point in the brick skin. To provide intimacy and protection from the sun, elements of Mashrabiya were introduced in the design of the wall. The brick façade transforms into terracotta paving and gently extends towards the ground, creating a harmonious contrast between new and old. The project poetically reflects the relationship between land and the symbolic importance of the building, and explores the ways architecture weaves together people and place.
