The project is located on former vineyard land converted into a housing estate. The installation of a cultural facility in this fragmented peri-urban context, with no direct connection to the public realm, led to the search for an inward-looking layout. This is informed as much by the cloister and the Roman domus as by certain agricultural archetypes such as the Provençal mas. The building is set back from the plot boundaries to create a planted forecourt.
The layout is based on a strong geometry that asserts the status of the public facility as a landmark within the territory. It defines a square of 55 metres on each side, formed by a massive stone enclosure. This deliberately monumental form establishes a large horizontal line in a landscape dominated by Mont Ventoux. Three volumes emerge from it: two four-sided pyramids and a half-cylinder.
Two opposite sides of the quadrilateral are large walls pierced by a wide central opening aligned with the entrance. The other two sides dissolve into regularly spaced columns. The façades of the heated volumes are set back to create a planted strip topped by a pergola. Jasmine, clematis, honeysuckle and lavender form a shaded, fragrant landscape. This intermediate space distances the rooms from the surrounding residential fabric and acts as a filter.
The interior of this mineral enclosure is divided into three equivalent parts: two timber-built spaces are positioned on either side of a central void that forms the internal landscape of the project. It consists of an entrance courtyard designed as a Mediterranean garden and a multi-sports pitch. A peripheral gallery provides distribution to each wing. The slender galvanised steel columns of the peristyle contrast with the massiveness of the stone.
Each wing accommodates one component of the program, with rooms of very different sizes: children’s activity centre and performance hall on one side, music and dance school on the other. The three largest spaces are housed in distinct volumes. The performance hall is located beneath the half-cylinder vault, while the pyramids provide zenithal light to the two dance studios.
The walls of the instrumental practice rooms are slightly inclined to meet high acoustic requirements. The interior atmospheres are defined by sound-absorbing wall linings and integrated plywood furniture. Windows at the back of the rooms extend the views and provide cross-visibility through the facility.
Economy of means and hybrid construction underpin an environmental approach tailored to the Mediterranean climate. The stone from the nearby quarry in Vers-Pont-du-Gard provides shelter from the mistral and contributes to thermal mass. Pergolas and galleries control solar protection, while the timber structure provides a high‑performance thermal envelope. The through-plan layout of the spaces provides natural ventilation, while timber slatted panels in front of the operable windows enable secure night-time ventilation. A geothermal system is paired with a heating and cooling underfloor system.
