MSA ARDECHE-DROME-LOIRE
The project is located in Privas in an ordinary industrial zone.
However, the marked topography offers splendid distant views towards the "Coirons from Ardèche". The building houses the offices of the Agricultural Social Security of the MSA as well as a local autonomous proximity agency.
A large horizontal frontage creates balance by encompassing both entities (administrative building and public agency). The building extends maximum lengthwise along the road, at the bottom of the terrain, and embeds into the hillside. An interior garden, central and welcoming like a pivot, provides access to these two places, both connected and clearly independent. As symbolic focal point, it also signifies the professional belonging of the MSA members.
The Rhône River is nearby and provides materials conducive to the realization of local white concrete. A company, Delta préfa, located nearby, manufactures high-quality prefabricated concrete internationally. Thus, during the competition, we envisioned a project that would utilize their expertise. The program calls for a sustainable and adaptable building. The envelope has been designed to withstand time and endure the rough Ardéchois climate with harsh winters, scorching summers, and horizontal local rains. Consequently, the building presents a solid, sober, and almost austere façade. Inside, a vast space unfolds, filtered transparencies, and the gentle ambiance of wooded environments allow internalizing the project, creating one's own views, one's own landscape.
At the heart of the structure, an atrium whose volume corresponds to the three main levels brings light and conviviality to the office floors. The claustra system naturally regulates most of the sunlight impact, supplemented by simple air systems. This envelope generates a dynamic interior life. Shadows and lights adorn the days, bringing tranquility, intimacy, and serenity to the work environment. The diffuse and omnipresent light in the wide variety of workspaces particularly contributes to the project's quality.
Throughout the movements, large frames dialogue with distant landscapes and mounts.
The project meets current bioclimatic challenges with a very high level of energy performance. The free structure and the systems in the floor and false ceilings allow for partitioning and re-partitioning at will, which was an imperative requirement of the program and allowed during the construction to heavily modify the organization plans of workspaces twice. The client was particularly satisfied with these possibilities of evolution, offering essential flexibility for their frequently evolving heritage. The acoustic design of the spaces and the special treatment of the false ceilings allow these modifications without generating noise disturbances. Overall, a considerable effort has been made to provide optimum acoustic comfort, crucial for the quality of workspaces, which the client also greatly appreciates in the entire project.
The client highlighted the enthusiasm of the employees when they took possession of the premises, who testified to their well-being in working in such premises on a daily basis. As architects, we couldn't ask for more...
