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La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

This angular structure looping around a central courtyard is an office building in Saint-Etienne by French studio Manuelle Gautrand Architecture.

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

The façade of the building is made up of opaque and glass rectangular panels, contrasting with the yellow underbelly where parts of the volume have been cut away.

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

Three entry points have been created where the building rises and falls, providing a yellow canopy over the pavement.

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

Above photograph is by Philippe Ruault

A central courtyard allows easy circulation in and around the building.

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

Above photograph is by Philippe Ruault

The building houses the offices for several government bodies, as well as a restaurant, tourism bureau and leisure facilities.

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

Photographs are by Vincent Fillon unless otherwise stated.

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

Above photograph is by Philippe Ruault

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La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

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La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

The following information is from the architects:


“LA CITE DES AFFAIRES” IN SAINT-ETIENNE  - Grüner district – Zac Châteaucreux, Saint-Etienne

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

This office building (1.500 workstations) groups various public services, including the head office of ‘Saint-Etienne Metropole’, a business canteen and 400 parking places.

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

Above photograph is by Philippe Ruault

The site is a vital liaison point between the centre of Saint-Etienne and the new Chateaucreux neighbourhood, to which it forms a major entranceway.

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

Above photograph is by Philippe Ruault

It also constitutes a pole grouping several government bodies that will set up there : Regional Development Authority, Tax Services, Epora, Saint-Etienne Métropole, and so on.

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

Above photograph is by Philippe Ruault

Service and leisure facilities will also be part of the mix: shared corporate restaurant, café, tourism bureau for the metropiltan area.

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

Above photograph is by Philippe Ruault

The idea is to develop a long built ‘continuum’ on the site to interact with adjacent streets.

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

A linear construction that rears up and unfolds but also hugs the ground line to form a low accessible building - one that opens spacious courts and lifts bold overhangs.

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

Each of its large bays serves an access route: the main portal opens to the concourse on avenue Grüner, which draws pedestrians into the project in a sliding movement.

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

A high ceiling shelters and magnifies this entranceway, which is the finest and largest of three.

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

The other two large ‘ports’ open the project to the streets that irrigate the lot, interconnecting pedestrian itineraries in the area.

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

Our desire for continuity in construction does not simply reflect the idea of building a legible and unitary urban landmark, it also provides the flexibility that the project needs.

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

Above photograph is by Philippe Ruault

In fact, the principle behind this continuum is to imagine a set of ‘communicating parts’ that enable the user-administrations to merge into a whole, one and all, and to evolve according to their needs in harmony with those of other tenants.

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

Above photograph is by Philippe Ruault

The absence of breaks in surfaces will ensure that things remain open-ended, with the possibility of extending or reducing space.

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

Above photograph is by Philippe Ruault

The project is like a large ‘Aztec serpent’ rising on the lot.

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

Above photograph is by Philippe Ruault

Its body has three identical outer faces, and an underside that is different: a skin of silvery transparent scales and a bright yellow ‘throat’, shiny and opaque.

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

Above photograph is by Philippe Ruault

This dual treatment of surfaces obeys a simple logic shared throughout, which aims at expressing clarity in folds.

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

Above photograph is by Philippe Ruault

Depending on these movements, the yellow underside is either a floating canopy or an interior vertical wall, accompanying internal pedestrian movements with its rich luminous presence.

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

The nearness of so much gorgeous yellow brightens up pavements and glazed elevations, casting golden washes over them like sunlight…

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

This is a project that is about bringing together yellow and grey, silver and gold.

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

ARCHITECT
Manuelle Gautrand Architecture: Manuelle Gautrand - representative architect, Thomas Daragon - works project manager, Yves Tougard - studies project manager

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

CLIENT
Altarea-Cogedim

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

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Structure: Khephren
Façade: Arcora

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

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Maîtrise d’œuvre d’exécution : Debray Ingénierie
Roofing / Finishings: Pitance-Lamy

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

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Metallic framework : Baudin-Châteauneuf
Façade : Allouis

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

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Surface : 25.000sqm
Length : 108 m, width : 43 m, max height. : 34 m

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

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Cantilever 25 m X 20 m without any grounding support

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

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Dates : 2005: design constest, 2006-2007 : studies, 2008-2010 : works, delivery : september 2010

La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

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La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

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La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

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La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

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La Cite des Affaires by Manuelle Gautrand

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See also:

.

Monolith by
Erick van Egeraat
Le Monolith by
MVRDV
More projects by Manuelle Gautrand Architecture