In Orléans, Atelier Delalande Tabourin (ADT) just completed the renovation of the head office of the Région Centre-Val de Loire, a certified building standing opposite the cathedral.
The architects chose an approach blending geometry and materials to create a harmonious relation between architecture, local history, and contemporary needs. They created a functional and aesthetic space in which to conduct the region’s political and institutional activities.
An aesthetic and functional renovation
The objective was to further develop a philosophy of architecture dear to the firm, i.e., the identification of space through geometry and materials. In other words, to undertake a renovation that was both sensitive to and respectful of the existing heritage, whilst improving its functional qualities through an activist ecological aesthetic.
The obvious approach was to extend the circular geometry of the hemicycle of the assembly chamber, the political and institutional heart of the building, into the entire architectural intervention.
Everything starts with the large levitating suspended light fixtures under the great listed dome ensuring perfectly distributed light, followed by the optimal acoustical correction of the existing concrete envelope, and the functional modularity of the chamber with its great scenic curtain. The presidential tribune, which can be dismantled, is also designed to be in harmony with the versatility of the chamber.
The form and organization of space
In addition to correcting the acoustics, the curtain contributes to the overall aesthetic. Its lightness softens the mineral and institutional heaviness of the pre-existing context.
Similarly, the circular wall of the acoustical foam stands, fabricated in part from recycled bottles, adds a contemporary and ecological touch to the environment. All the solid wood desks were conserved and restored, whilst the ones that were removed have been transformed into benches for the lobbies of the regional headquarters.
The circular aesthetic of the intervention in the hemicycle is extended to the peripheral spaces of the renovation as well. The original spatial organization suffered from a real lack of clarity, in particular concerning accessibility for persons with reduced mobility. Circles, semi-circles, and curves contrast with the existing cubic volumes and make the new adjacent spaces more easily identifiable from the lobby.
Work on materials
The work on materials adds an additional narrative dimension to the space. Thus, in order to be a part of the mineral continuity of the listed fresco by Maurice Calka, several sculptured stone masses now decorate and enliven the approaches to the hemicycle. This work in collaboration with the last operational quarry of Souppes showcases the local historical knowhow.
This approach also impacted the design of the furnishings and the spatial organization of the place, designed in partnership with the Atelier Blam and Paf Atelier.
The extruded aluminum furniture, designed based on an assemblage of T-slot aluminum extrusions, was inspired by the pre-existing metal feet in the assembly chamber, now openly highlighted and integrated into this project.
These decorative, luminous, and contrasting elements also contribute to the identification of uses through materials, whilst also highlighting other important but often neglected or hidden elements, such as accesses for people with reduced mobility.
Team:
Architect: Atelier Delalande Tabourin
Project Manager: Alexis Millet - Architect DESA HMONP
Contractor: Région Centre-Val de Loire
Structure engineering: I+A Laboratoire des structures
Multimedia engineering: MTCE Consulting
Acoustic: Gamba
Lighting, High and Low voltage networks and SSI engineering: MJBN Ingénierie
Economic studies: Simonneau
Scenography: Paf Atelier
Photography: Maxime Delvaux
Material Used:
Companies
1. Demolition and structural work: Malard
2. Metalwork: Croixalmétal and Atelier Blam
3. Curtain: Atelier Blam
4. Joinery and interior fittings: Croixmarie
5. Ceiling/Lining/Walls/Tiling: Gauthier
6. Stone: Coulmeau
7. Paint: Gauthier
8. Floors: Asseline
9. HVAC, plumbing: EDL
10. High and low voltage networks: SPIE
11. Multimedia: Manganelli
12. Lift: TK Elevator
Materials
1. Stone: Pierre de Souppes
2. Curtain: Kvadrat
3. Acoustic foam from recycled bottles: Arteck
4. Lining/walls: Knauff
5. Floors: Marmoleum Forbo
6. Parquet floor: Henry Millet
Furnishing
1. Lights: Flos
2. Multimedia: Taiden
