The new headquarters of the organization for social housing
in the metropolitan area of Lille, LMH, is located on the
boulevard Gambetta in Tourcoing, a major road connecting
Lille and its surrounding communities. A new road perpendicular
to the boulevard, the “Rue de l’Union”, is the central
axes of a new urban development area situated on a former
industrial site for textile industries.
The site is oriented towards the road crossing. It is the first
building of the new district forming its entrance confronting
the existing city. A large park integrating an existing channel
and a high environmental ambition are key issues for
the quality of the new neighborhood.
Accessibility by public transport is assured by the metro
and its station nearby.
The existing urban context is relatively poor including a hotel
complex built in the seventies without significant architectural
quality.
The new building for LMH affirms its presence in the urban
context by its dimension, the new architectural expression
searching for lightness and transparency avoiding monumentality.
Large outdoor terraces sculpture the volume. An
open central space forms the core of the building. It is an
inner court protected by a glass roof including a monumental
stair and steel bridges on each level as the main vertical
circulation in the building.
Its generous dimension is unexpected. It provides the
space for informal meetings, exhibitions and organized
events. The restaurant area in the north and the meeting
area for seminaries in the south complete the central
space. Mobile divisions allow dividing the southern part in
several working areas.
The offices are arranged around the atrium on five floors.
Meeting rooms and open recreation areas animate the inner
façade providing bow windows into the court. Large
wooden terraces are provided on each level. These outdoor
areas can be used for meetings, spontaneous and informal,
as well as for moments of rest and recreation.
The untreated concrete slabs are used to store energy by
using its mass. Integrated water pipes close to the surface
allow active change of temperature and provoke refreshing
or heating according to the season by radiation. All offices
can be naturally ventilated by a horizontally opening
window. This type of opening allows free cooling at night
assuring protection from intrusion.
Natural light is privileged for all areas. Sun protection is
provided on the south façade by horizontal aluminum elements
situated above the windows allowing free sight and
protection simultaneously.
The ventilation ducts, electrical installations are part of the
design. These elements are directly accessible or covered
by a metal mesh. The main materials are concrete and steel
for the primary structure, wood and glass.
A multistory car park in the east of the building is designed
as the future extension of the building. Its floor height allows
the transformation into offices. The central circular
ramp is made of steel and can easily be dismounted to
offer a central space, an atrium similar to the main building.
A storage building for bicycles along the Rue de l’Union
completes the complex. It forms a filter to the delivery area
by its wooden vertical cladding.
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