Cultural and social area Gonzague Saint Bris

Description

Protected from the outside world and completely open on the inside, Cabourg Social & Cultural Centre offers an original take on the architectural codes for a cloister. Whilst remaining faithful to the archetypal Normandy single-storey farmhouse, with its rather narrow, elongated shape and ridge roof, Lemoal’s design offers a highly contemporary interpretation. This is evident not just from the dimensions, but also the choice of materials and treatment of the façades.
"

• Year of delivery

  2019

• Location

  Cabourg France

• Architect / signatory

  lemoal lemoal architectes

• Project owner

  Ville de Cabourg

• Installation company

  Quince Construction

• Photograph

  Javier Callejas

• Product name

  Pommard tile

• Product form

  Standard

• Epidermis texture

  Through body colour

• Surface appearance

  Shaded natural

• Color

  Autumn Shandy

• Work

  New

HD download Contact-us

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

© Photos sous copyright soumises à des droits d’auteur

Titre d'article

Clad in roofing tiles from top to bottom

Corps d'article

The two, perfectly symmetrical L-shaped buildings create a dual-aspect walkway in their centre, connecting the residential district with the town centre.  Inside, the sense of a wonderful breathing space is emphasised by the decision to leave the wooden framework visible and by having a host of glass-fronted spaces, smoothing away the boundary between the buildings and the walkway.
Built in a location marking a boundary, the project had to fit into its environment without disturbing its neighbours. It was out of the question for visitors to get a view straight onto the nearby houses! This was a considerable constraint that, in the end, proved a source of inspiration for the architects, who came up with the idea of lowering the roof at the back of the building to close off the space. A complete protective shell made from Pommard plain tiles, the deliberately uneven batten gauge of which creates the illusion of irregular overlapping, giving the buildings an unusual contoured appearance. The combination of shades, from fiery red to almost blackish brown, lends warmth, a friendly feel and movement to the façade. Visitors are struck by the chromatic spectacle put on for their enjoyment, depending on whether the tiles are wet or bathed in sunshine. A concept that’s unexpected, without being unconventional or omnipresent, subtly blending tradition with modernity. An amazing feat of creativity!
"

The word of

lemoal lemoal architectes, Architect

Interview

Christophe Lemoal, architect
“In addition to its irregular gauge, Pommard appealed to us because of its textured appearance and extraordinary grain. It's a tile with character and its authentic, aged appearance fitted the project well. We didn't want a neutral, smooth and even façade like you can get with slate, for example. Roofing tiles are easy to work with too, offering the architect great freedom of expression. Here, for example, they enabled us to eliminate gutters and drainpipes. Rainwater runs down the back of the building before soaking into the ground. Bricks and tiles are a great inspiration to architects at present. Terracotta is both a traditional and contemporary material because it is natural, eco-friendly and lasting. Its solidity and thermal performance are undeniable strengths. In our firm, we love putting forward proposals for buildings that draw inspiration from their environment and we use local resources as much as possible. There is a lot of roof tiling in Cabourg, so it was quite natural for us to choose to work with Terreal's Bavent factory, just a few kilometres away. We're delighted with our collaboration with Terreal and very satisfied with the end result. The project has also been very well received, both by the Mayor and local officials as well as by the users!”