PRAIRIE AU DUC
AZC is the architect for the housing, MIMA for the crèche. At AZC, the studies were carried out by Alberto Gatti with Thibaut Davanseau.
The neighborhood and urban project
The project is in the Prairie au Duc neighborhood. It starts at the Nefs de la Loire, which houses the Machines, and extends towards the hangars at the western edge of the island, at the junction of Prairie-au-Duc and Quai des Antilles. Its position between two major leisure and walking areas creates a privileged situation for the residents, an advantage reinforced by the accessibility and public transport services via bus C5.
To the north, Boulevard de la Prairie au Duc is lined with large trees. To the south, Boulevard de l’Estuaire also exists but its boundaries, pathways, and landscape are under construction. Still present to the south of this boulevard, the railway track reflects the site's former industrial character, set to host the future Parc de la Prairie au Duc.
The three buildings of the project are aligned with the various urban planning axes that govern the layout of the neighborhood. By adhering to the heights stipulated by the urban plan, they contribute to the creation of vistas and alignments, framing the roads and squares. On the west side, a gap called “venelle” connects the two boulevards. With varying heights of R+5, R+11, and R+6, the three buildings containing the housing units have been designed with balconies at each angle, to make the most of the breathtaking views of the neighborhood. Intermediate terraces on R+1 and R+6 are accessible to all and are equipped with plants in real soil, integrating nature within the living spaces.
Occupied largely by the crèche, the ground floor also houses auxiliary facilities for the housing. Near the entrance halls, there are facilities for storing bicycles and prams and waste rooms. At the northeast corner, a large bicycle storage area is shared between halls A and B. At the northwest corner, there is a City-Lab, a space dedicated to the residents of the condominium.
Buildings A and B have a shared entrance hall from Boulevard de la Prairie au Duc. Building C has its entrance from Boulevard de l'Estuaire. Access to the crèche is at the level of the small square formed at the corner of Boulevard de l'Estuaire and the one-way street. The complex is built on a basement level providing 88 parking spaces and technical rooms. Access to the parking is from the street connecting Boulevards de l’Estuaire and de la Prairie au Duc. The parking entrance is located at Building B, on the East façade, on the road linking Boulevard de la Prairie au Duc with Boulevard de l’Estuaire.
The housing program
The specifications required a variety of housing types, suitable for a diverse mix of families, seniors, and young singles. The project is strategically positioned within its urban setting, seeking to maximize the advantages for each dwelling depending on its location in the building.
Double orientation, views of the street, the garden, the terraces, varying levels of sunlight, and privacy... We have done everything to give each dwelling one or more advantages, to maximize its appeal to a broad range of occupants, and overall, to create a mixed and intergenerational condominium.
The abundance of natural light and views are prioritized, promoting the opening of all living spaces towards terraces or loggias for each dwelling. The various constraints allow for the creation of some unique dwellings: either a duplex with a large terrace or T2s overlooking the “venelle” with the possibility of adding mezzanines. A significant portion of these is double-oriented and sometimes through-units. A few dwellings, which are mono-oriented, face south. Only one studio is north facing. From T3 upwards, all kitchen spaces face outward.
There is a systematic distinction between night and day spaces. No bedroom is accessed through the living room. All dwellings have an outdoor space that is at least 2m deep, which allows them to be truly inhabited. For all end units, the living/kitchen areas occupy the corner positions. All dwellings have a free height of 2.70m, which adds real quality to the living spaces inside. Finally, the staircases accessing the floors are placed on the façade and are naturally lit. The doors leading to the corridors have also been glazed, allowing views of the outside and the staircase from the distribution corridors, thereby encouraging their use.
Construction and Natural Spaces
Concrete has become the dominant material in this project, as with all built on the Île de Nantes. The structure and facades are entirely made of concrete, supported by a regular grid of columns holding up concrete slabs. The floor-to-floor height for each residential level is 2.92 meters.
The façades follow a logical framework, revealing the structural principles. The concrete façades are arranged on the slab edges, which incorporate insulation breaks. Thermal insulation is installed inside the dwellings. This results in a robust assembly that can be refurbished over time using traditional methods.
To give a domestic scale to the concrete volumes, we detailed the sub-grids of the façades according to the partitioning of the dwellings. The main grid is thus subdivided, allowing for a regular alternation of windows across all façades, following the width of the living spaces.
Continuing with the theme of domesticity, the choice of formwork has proven to be a solution that offers an interesting read, both from the street and from the balcony: will the buildings satisfy both the gaze of passersby and that of the residents?
The balustrades of the balconies and loggias are made of metalwork in warm shades, contrasting with the austerity of the concrete. Since the project primarily uses architectural concrete with a stained finish, we wanted to add warmth with the colors of the roller shutters and aluminum joinery.
The landscape forms a coherent whole, clearly distinguishable from the buildings by its shape and materials. The pedestrian pathways adopt curvaceous and organic forms, thus standing out against the strictness and framework of the buildings.
The roof of the crèche allows the three shafts to feature an elevated garden at the R+1 level, offering views over the Parc de la Prairie au Duc. It is connected to the “venelle” by a staircase accessible only to the city-lab and the residents of the housings. This elevated garden is exclusively for the use of the residents of the housing and users of the city-lab.
