Le Village Évolutif

Idea projektu

This project is formally situated in Villefontaine, Commune in Isère, France. "Le Village Évolutif" proposes an expansion of the Le Grands Ateliers campus through a volumetric design that engages in dialogue with the existing context. The program combines laboratory spaces, student housing, and sustainable recreational areas, creating a cohesive mixed-use development.

The design addresses fundamental user needs while integrating an innovative approach to environmental and social sustainability. As a new construction, the project prioritizes carbon footprint reduction through both passive and active strategies—such as optimized building orientation, high-performance thermal envelopes, and renewable energy systems.

Furthermore, the communal and recreational spaces are conceived to foster interaction among students, ensuring a dynamic social framework. These areas are carefully integrated into the natural and architectural preexisting context, maintaining visual and functional harmony with the broader campus complex. The result is a forward-thinking intervention that balances programmatic efficiency, ecological responsibility, and social connectivity.

Popis projektu

The project’s organizational logic stems from a rigorous site analysis, where a recessed visual axis mediates between existing structures and new interventions. This strategic gesture does more than connect—it recalibrates the campus hierarchy, transforming circulation into a catalyst for social exchange. The axial arrangement is not arbitrary; it responds to observed movement patterns while creating deliberate spatial thresholds that transition from public to private domains.

Sustainability is operationalized through a layered approach. Passive systems—the south-oriented roof grid, thermal massing, and optimized glazing ratios—are not standalone features but interconnected components of a larger energy strategy. This is augmented by the modular "villa" typology, where programmatic diversity (workshops, housing, communal hubs) reduces embodied carbon through shared infrastructure. The villas’ compact footprints challenge conventional student housing, proving density need not compromise spatial quality.

Residential units exemplify this ethos. Customizable furniture systems—foldable workspaces, multi-tiered storage—are not mere space-saving devices but tools for behavioral adaptation.

The landscape transcends ornamentation. The 807.74 m² permaculture grid and phytoremediation wetlands (304.14 m²) are operational landscapes, where water management doubles as a pedagogical display. And the topographic focal point, the amphitheater (1,542.35 m²), that doubles as a social hub and a possible outdoor classroom.

Construction methodology reinforces these ideals. Low-carbon materials dominate. The roof's geometry serves dual purposes—maximizing solar exposure while channeling rainwater—exemplifying the design's multifunctional rigor.

What ultimately defines Le Village Évolutif is its rejection of binary thinking. It is neither purely academic nor purely residential, but a hybrid ecosystem where prototype testing informs dwelling design, and viceversa. The embedded "testing village" is pivotal here—by exposing student prototypes to actual microclimates, the project turns theory into applied research. This seamless integration of living and learning redefines educational architecture: the campus doesn’t just teach sustainability; it performs it.

Technické informace

This project redefines sustainable construction through a meticulously engineered hybrid system combining low-carbon CEM II/B-M concrete foundations with Gluham timber superstructures, achieving a 50% reduction in embodied carbon. The structural approach prioritizes material efficiency—CLT wall panels provide exceptional load-bearing capacity while minimizing weight and carbon footprint.

Facade systems are tailored to programmatic needs: laboratories feature STADIP SILENCE glazing for acoustic performance, residential areas utilize PRIVA-LITE smart glass for adaptive solar control, and communal spaces employ ventilated metal rainscreens with cellulose cores for thermal regulation. Each system integrates durable, recyclable components, with 90% of facade materials designed for closed-loop reuse.

Life Cycle Analysis confirms an industry-leading footprint below 350 kg CO₂e/m². The design strategically minimizes replacement impacts (76% of total emissions) through durable material selection and modular construction. Passive strategies—including optimized orientation, Low-E glazing, and phytoremediation wetlands—reduce operational energy demands by 30%.

The project's innovation lies in its synthesis of technical performance and adaptability. Reconfigurable residential units and prefabricated components ensure long-term flexibility without structural modification. Beyond meeting sustainability targets, Le Village Évolutif establishes new benchmarks for educational architecture, demonstrating how technical rigor can deliver both environmental and functional excellence.

Dokumentace

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