Community Headquarters

The operation is located on a periphery of a former industrial town, along the canal de l'Est. The former industrial site is revitalized through the creation of an office building (as an extension of the existing technical centre), the reintroduction of vegetation, the reuse and relocation of the old hangars, and soil depollution. Transforming this "ugly France" is a pressing challenge for our communities, aiming to change the vision of the landscape and to revitalize an obsolete commercial zone through contemporary architecture made out of timber structure and raw earth brick walls.

This project is nourished by the research conducted within studiolada for several years concerning materials, methods, and user engagement. The building demonstrates an architecture that is clear, minimalist, functional, and environmentally conscious. The terracotta and zinc roof provides a unifying canopy, shielding façades. The exposed wooden structure and raw earth walls reflect the use of local bio and geo-sourced materials and vernacular techniques. Spaces are arranged around a central atrium with "flamandes" providing natural lighting and ventilation. The structure uses locally sourced spruce wood, wood wool insulation, and unstabilized earthen walls, providing thermal inertia that eliminates the need for air conditioning. A rain garden collects roof runoff, while tanks collect water for bus washing and restrooms. Specific plants are used for phytoremediation of polluted soil, supporting environmental recovery.

The use of raw earth was a rather natural choice for the construction of two interior shear walls in addition to a timber structure. Two earth deposits were identified within a radius of 5 and 20 kilometers, then analyzed and tested in order to determine an adequate formulation. A simple production method using clay, sand, chopped straw, and water was adopted, producing bricks that can be easily deconstructed. As the local earth construction industry was underdeveloped, a training program was initiated for artisans and associations. Delivered on-site by Amàco and funded by the intermunicipal community, a participatory workshop was organized to produce 18,000 bricks under an existing hangar. Supervised by Amàco, over 300 participants, including residents, students, and local builders, learned and contributed to the process. After drying, the bricks were laid by a local company trained through the project, enhancing its expertise for future bids.