Cultural center
CONTEXT
At La Chapelle des Fougeretz, situated between ‘Matelon Pond’ and the town centre, are the ‘Community Centre’, the ‘Youth Centre / Barn’, and the building known as the ‘Herbert Sisters’ House’. The six plots dedicated to the project have a unique setting, featuring existing heritage buildings constructed from local Rennes clay, a green boundary and an old garden, characteristic of this type of development.
What immediately strikes the visitor as they walk around the site is its central position in the Chapelle des Fougeretz, situated between the church and the village houses on one side, and its proximity to the tranquil, tree-lined Matelon pond on the other. There is a gentle atmosphere within these plots, enhanced by the lovely views of the landscape towards the pond.
INSCRIPTION IN THE SITE
This facility will bring together a variety of spaces dedicated to community, social and cultural activities, providing easy and welcoming access to the whole community.
It was therefore decided, as the first step in the project’s design, to retain two existing buildings of significant heritage value: the house known as the ‘Herbert sisters’ house’, and the ‘youth centre / barn’, earthen-walled farmhouses typical of the Rennes area.
The “Maison des Associations” building, to the west, will not be retained due to the excessive alterations it has undergone in recent years and its dilapidated condition. These alterations have resulted in a significant loss of its heritage value.
The house known as the ‘Herbert sisters’ house’ and the ‘Youth Centre / Barn’ building will be renovated. This will involve cleaning out and modifying the interior spaces in accordance with best practice for the conservation of earthen buildings, as well as the restoration and repair of the external render and joinery in keeping with the existing structure.
These intentions have guided our site plan, which positions the project as a volumetric transition within this context, thereby highlighting this new facility through a form that is clearly distinguishable from the existing houses. The ‘new’ facility is thus composed of two volumes. A low building housing the main entrance and a tall building housing the large multi-purpose hall. The latter, situated to the north-west and set back slightly, frees up the north and south façades of the Herbert sisters’ house and preserves the views from the interior spaces. The multi-purpose hall opens out towards the pond, acting as an outdoor extension of the indoor function space.
BEETWEEN URBAN AND RURAL
The entrance block, which is attached to the existing building, blends seamlessly into the site, fitting within the footprint of the existing houses. Its low height preserves the existing ‘barn’, and its largely glazed façade, punctuated by the vertical lines of the timber frame, runs along the front of the existing house. This high degree of transparency draws the visitor in and creates a link between the old and new structures.
In the background, the multi-purpose hall takes on a vernacular identity: a double-pitched roof, timber frame, timber cladding and steel roofing – reinterpreting regional principles through a contemporary design language. The entire extension features two colour schemes: transparency and natural wood for the entrance volume, and wood/dark navy blue for the tall volume of the multi-purpose hall.
On the multi-purpose hall, the timber cladding is protected from weathering by a navy blue stain, which highlights the wood’s grain and provides a colour that harmonises with the existing render (contrasting colour).
BIOCLIMATIC APPROACH
The bioclimatic approach is central to the design: the aim is, in particular, to make the most of free solar gain in winter and during the shoulder seasons, whilst protecting against the risk of overheating through specific measures (sunshades, roof overhangs, thermal mass).
The orientation and positioning of the various rooms also take this approach into account.
Consequently, the project prioritises an environmental approach and adopts the key principles of bioclimatic architecture:
+North/south orientation, taking into account the site’s climatic data, wind and sunlight (protection from south-westerly winds in particular)
+Compact design and high insulation of the building complex to prevent linear heat loss
+Low impact on the landscape through the choice of materials: slate roofing and timber cladding,
+Heritage restoration of two existing buildings constructed using traditional Rennes-style cob,
+Passive use of winter sunlight and summer protection,
LOW CARBON APPROACH
To significantly reduce the project’s carbon emissions, priority is given to short supply chains for materials. All the timber used in the project (structural timber, timber-based panels, bio-based insulation, etc.) comes from sustainably managed (PEFC-certified) forests in the local region.
The project adopts the ‘dry construction’ method, using a timber frame and timber cladding to ensure a clean building site and preserve the site’s environment.
The cladding consists of Douglas fir boards with a rhythmic joint pattern. On the ground-floor extension, the cladding retains a natural colour; on the protruding section of the village hall, to give it a distinct identity, the timber cladding is stained dark blue.
In the new section, the low thermal mass of the timber is offset by the use of dense bio-based materials, such as wood fibre insulation between the timber-framed walls, and Biofib (wool, flax, cotton) in the roof structure of the main hall.
Acoustic insulation is provided by spruce fibre boards and plywood panels in the hall and the main hall.
In the existing structure, the rammed earth walls have been restored and reinforced, and exterior earth-lime render has been applied to the entire building, replicating the original finish for the Maison des Sœurs Herbert and the barn. Solid oak ‘squares’ frame the existing openings, acting as an interface between the lime plaster and the window frames.
Hemp wool insulation completes
