Share to
MESS
By : enia architectes
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 16th edition
Discipline : Architecture
Categories : Public Building / Institutional Building : Silver Certification
Categories : Special Award / Architecture + Aluminium : Bronze Certification
Our project, through its morphology and the composition of its facades, assumes the role of a bridge between the heritage anchoring of the location and its projection into the future: a precious volume of silver metal, levitating on a mineral base of bricks, anchored in the history of the place. However, given the existing buildings, the available land surface for the building is very limited compared to the importance of the program and the external flows inherent in the activity of the Mess. These constraints have thus led us to maximum compactness, while respecting the initial plan we set ourselves: to propose a two-level building – a ground floor and a first floor.
This desire for an R+1 building responds to clear functional objectives: to reduce travel times, facilitate access to different spaces, manage the number of users smoothly, especially during peak hours, and ensure optimal liaison of restoration flows – equipment and supplies. The meticulous work of organizing and optimizing the interior spaces has made this morphology compatible with the management of external flows; the latter have all the necessary space to meet all the demands of the program: all vehicles, including 38-ton trucks, can circulate around the building to access the secure delivery area located to the west, without disturbing pedestrian access flows to the Mess.
This hierarchical management of external flows is reflected in a thorough reflection on the internal route, which has guided our entire design; the building is designed as a fluid and clear walk, with the principle of \ »moving forward\ » used for the production of restoration also being extended to the users\’ journey: this requirement is essential for optimal management of personnel flows, which are extremely important during peak periods; arriving guests do not cross guests who have finished their meals.
This journey is punctuated by various sequences: a sheltered entrance square, a double-height hall, a first-floor landing open onto the esplanade, a large, bright and warm room, a descent to the cafeteria open onto a shaded southern terrace. Each of them gives essential importance to acoustic and visual comfort, as well as to the generosity of natural lighting, which accompanies all spaces, including circulation and all workspaces.
This attention is accompanied by optimal control of solar inputs, validated by our simulations; this contributes to our ambitious environmental strategy, which is based in particular on energy consumption management, thanks to solar production on the roof, the performance of the envelope, and the technical solutions chosen.
These solutions are simple and proven, and echo the rationality of our entire design: the construction processes are mostly prefabricated, which guarantees reduced lead times, impeccable quality of execution, and very limited construction nuisances. They are made possible by a rigorous and regular structural approach, which also offers maximum flexibility in layout: the total absence of columns in the large room, the absence of beams and the very small number of carriers in the production area, will allow significant and easy reconfigurations in the future.
We are convinced that our project fully meets the ambitious objectives of comfort and use, and that it fits into the long-term vision of this majestic site.
Collaboration
