Located in Brest, France, this project represents the third historical iteration of a site deeply woven into the local urban fabric. Originally constructed in 1927 as an Art Deco post office, the building was destroyed during the Second World War and subsequently rebuilt between 1947 and 1950 in a neo-regionalist style. This post-war version, characterised by the dual use of reinforced concrete and granite, featured a U-shaped plan with three wings organised around a central courtyard and a post office. The recent transformation adapts this administrative landmark into a residence, introducing a fourth contemporary wing that completes the block and revitalises the building for modern residential use.
Adaptive reuse of a post office for communal living
The rehabilitation strategy retains the original three wings to house the primary residential units, utilising the generous existing window openings to ensure ample natural light. The former post office, located at the heart of the plan, has been converted into communal spaces for residents, including dining and social areas. A central exterior patio was created by removing a compromised vault under the original lantern; however, preserving the surrounding spandrels maintains a visual record of the building’s former volumetry while improving natural ventilation and daylighting for the central common areas.
Contemporary extension and connectivity
The addition of a new wing in the former courtyard transforms the site's circulation, creating a formal entrance courtyard on one side and a private interior garden on the other. At the ground level, a transparent entrance hall provides a physical separation between these two outdoor zones while maintaining clear visual sightlines across the entire site. This new volume is elevated on six structural columns, a design choice that facilitates a continuous flow between the interior reception and the surrounding landscape. This structural rationalism serves as a modern dialogue with the post-war concrete heritage of the original building, enabling a densified urban footprint that maximises land-use efficiency.
Material dialogue
The material palette for the extension was selected to complement the existing granite and concrete and to reuse red bricks salvaged from demolished portions of the building. By contrast, the north facade features a curtain wall of glass blocks. This choice echoes the industrial materiality of the former post office and provides high levels of diffused natural light to the internal corridors, reducing the dependency on artificial lighting. To the south, private loggias provide an outdoor space for each apartment, serving as thermal buffers that help regulate internal temperatures. To balance the mineral-based material character of the site, bio-based timber cladding is used for the loggias and integrated into the facades of the old post . These wooden elements, coupled with the new interior garden, mitigate the urban heat island effect and enhance the microclimate's hygrothermal comfort within the block.
As Simon Chatillon, one of the partners of Chatillon Architectes, said, “Adaptive reuse is not only a more sustainable approach to urban development but also fosters connections between the past and future, ensuring that the building remains integrated with its surroundings while continuing to serve the community. In the case of the Brest Post Office, the creation of city-center housing for all ages contributes to the vitality of both the local community and the city." The combination of structural preservation and targeted contemporary intervention ensures the building remains a functional, low-impact part of Brest's city future.
