Cardinal Richaud Offices
Located in a commercial district near a motorway interchange, on land reclaimed from the Garonne floodplain, the project aims to recreate an urban environment.
It replaces a model of isolated buildings surrounded by car parks with a more pedestrian-friendly approach. Walkways run along active ground-floor frontages and extend into landscaped gardens at the heart of the blocks.
The programme combines a social-purpose serviced residence with offices on the upper floors and workshops at ground level. The density of development creates a stronger urban presence.
In contrast with the surrounding low-rise buildings, the project rises to nine storeys, allowing a large amount of office and residential space to be accommodated on a limited site.
To preserve permeable ground, parking is integrated within the office buildings, above the workshops. These parking levels are designed to be converted into office space in the future, anticipating a gradual reduction in car use.
A series of buildings forms a U-shaped courtyard opening to the east. The volumes gradually step down from north to south, protecting the courtyard from the motorway interchange while allowing sunlight in and providing shelter from prevailing winds.
The scale of the development is softened by the fragmentation and stepping of the volumes. Vertical and horizontal fins animate the façades while providing solar protection and depth.
The buildings combine a concrete structure with lightweight timber-frame façades clad in anodised aluminium. The primary concrete structure is designed to last, while the façade components can be dismantled, reused or recycled.
The anodised aluminium façades create changing effects of rhythm, light and reflection, altering the perception of the buildings throughout the day.
