Stéréo

Sandrine Iratçabal

• Architects

Stéréo balances economic imperatives, architectural ambition, and sustainability.
It adheres to economic constraints but refuses to be indifferent. It minimizes its construction footprint, adapts to the topography, and organizes space efficiently. It does not reject the dominant warehouse model but subtly reinterprets it, attempting to redefine architecture’s role in business districts without disregarding their functional realities.

photo_credit Sandrine Iratçabal — Sandrine Iratçabal

A Rational and Cost-Effective Structure
The building follows a rectangular, compact plan structured around five load-bearing metal bays spaced 6 meters apart. This configuration optimizes material use in the steel framework and minimizes waste during cladding installation.

A Controlled Footprint
Centrally positioned on the plot, the layout optimizes circulation: to the south, a level loading dock leverages the 1.20-meter elevation difference, enabling smooth truck deliveries. To the north, access is reserved for pedestrians and light vehicles. Artificial surfaces are minimized to preserve natural soil while managing costs.

A Program Combining Industry and Office Spaces
The building spans 1,215 m² across two levels. The ground floor houses all industrial functions, including a double-height storage area and a showroom positioned at the eastern entrance, facing the public space. The upper floor is dedicated to office spaces, offering unobstructed views of the adjacent pine forest.

Raw Materials and a Minimalist Atmosphere
The project’s economic rationality translates into the use of raw materials and a minimalist interior: exposed concrete, white-painted cinder blocks, visible electrical and HVAC systems, uncoated metal facades, quartz-finished industrial concrete floors, and chestnut wood joinery for all interior and exterior fixtures. The open-plan layout, with minimal partitions, allows for flexible adaptation as the company evolves.

A Nod to Landes Vernacular Architecture
Beyond economic and structural efficiency, Stéréo draws inspiration from local architectural traditions to reimagine the standardized warehouse. The facade treatment creates a deliberate tension between the gable ends and the long elevations, adding dynamism to the building’s volume within its environment.

Abstract Gables
To the east and west, raw concrete gables emphasize the building’s stability. Their subtly offset double-pitched shape echoes the traditional Landes farmhouse elevation. Each gable is hollowed out at its center, framing the two glass entrances on the ground floor and providing terrace spaces for the first-floor offices.

Rhythmic Metal Facades
To the north and south, vertical metal cladding combines vertical and horizontal elements: the vertical rhythm of rainwater downspouts highlights the building’s structural grid, while horizontal lines emerge from the window placements, baseboards, and roof overhangs. The dark cladding color references the tobacco-drying barns once characteristic of the Landes landscape.