MULTIPURPOSE HALL. LA GRANGE AU PRE
The "Grange au Pré", a multipurpose hall for sports and local activities, was born from an open competition initiated by the village of Léchelles with the aim to promote the development of its village center. During the planning process, a cooperative was specifically created to associate the habitants in order to co-finance a central district heating plant, which is also part of the project.
The hall marks the new eastern entrance of Léchelles with its clear location on the main road. Its architectural posture is reminiscent of the silhouette of the church at the other end of the village, but also of the structures of old farmhouses, in order to maintain a strong local character. Due to its specific position on the slope and its abstract form, completely covered on the outside with brown roof tiles, the building plays with several forms of expression. While its front gable with its imposing chimney of the heating plant shows a representative and monumental figure, the side facades take on a more domestic appearance, creating a harmony with the surrounding context.
The main interior space is completely lined with handcrafted wood cladding, creating a noble setting for sports and festivities. Thanks to the two glazed facades, it also opens up to passers-by, making it the theater for village activities. At each of its extremities the space is framed by compact volumes of rough concrete, which exude a sober and raw atmosphere. These volumes accommodate a combination of additional functions: the cloakrooms of the sports clubs, a professional kitchen, a garage for firefighters and the pellet heating plant. In 2018, this first project of the office won a “mention” price at the “Distinction Romande d'Architecture”, DRA IIII.
