Le Havre , France

The Vernelles residence

Located in the heights of the French city of Le Havre, you'll find a neighbourhood that's more than just a housing development. The Les Vernelles complex may contain densely packed housing but it is far from dull thanks to a perfectly orchestrated architectural approach. Within this development, buildings of all shapes and sizes are tied together by the terracotta that features on all the façades. This subtle touch creates a link between the different buildings to bring the whole development to life and inspire a sense of calm.

Year of delivery

2021
Location

Le Havre France
Architect / signatory

Atelier Bettinger-Desplanques
Project owner

Logeo Seine Estuaire
Installation company

Bati seine - Delta façade
Photograph

Guillaume Briere-Soude

Product name

Thermoreal-Gebrik
Product form

Standard
Epidermis texture

Through body colour
Surface appearance

Plain natural
Color

81. Ligure
Work

New

HD download

Contact-us

Titre d'article

Terracotta Ties

At the heart of this construction project comprising 102 social houses is a large farmhouse made of bricks and flint (typical in the Pays de Caux region of France), which has been preserved and renovated to retain its history. The Atelier Bettinger-Desplanques architectural company has managed to preserve this stunning piece of heritage whilst ensuring that it blends in seamlessly with the new buildings. The bold contemporary design of these buildings anchors the project in its era.

The brick—the connecting force found in all the buildings—is paired with wood for a simple and elegant look. A light shade was selected to bring a touch of brightness and tranquillity, while its textured finish (sandblasted and ribbed) makes the overall appearance even richer. A light, subtle ochre seal further brightens the façade — its softness contrasting with the black metal staircases that gracefully extend from the building. Sophistication in its raw state.

The word of

Atelier Bettinger-Desplanques, Architect

Interview

Pascal Desplanques, architect
"By its very nature, terracotta has a feeling of quality and solidity about it. It is also familiar, homely, friendly and warm. The durability of terracotta is also very attractive: it is a safe product that requires no maintenance. On the aesthetic side of things, I love the rough texture of the brick. Even though it is industrial, the material has a rich quality. At our firm, we are advocates of terracotta and use it in many projects. This material comes in a wide variety of colours, which has enabled us to create buildings that fit perfectly into their environments — some of them built completely out of black brick and others from white brick. We sometimes even use a combination of colours on the same façade. The possibilities are endless."