#CAR PARK #LANDMARK #CONCRETE
Jacques Ferrier Architectures: http://www.jacques-ferrier.com/en/
Located in Soissons close by the famous Saint Jean-de-la Vigne abbey, the new 600 space capacity ai???Les Yeux Vertsai??? multi-storey car park is fundamental to the project redeveloping the Gouraud barracks into a modern business park.
Its presence contributes to the transformation of the site and is one of its federating landmark elements. With its concrete structure, galvanised steel framework and timber cladding, it takes the form of a contemporary yet highly restrained urban infrastructure.
The architectural style of the building is based on a clearly affirmed structure overlaid by a pleated openwork timber envelope that lightly and delicately clads the entire car park. On each level, a slit opens up in the envelope to provide views from the inside over the urban landscape of the town.
From the outside, these ai???green eyesai??? open widely to reveal hanging gardens that delicately spread into the surrounding fa ade.
Subtle visual variations have been created using a single retified spruce slat module. This is achieved by adjusting the rhythm and angling of the slats, stepping away from the fa ades, using solids and voids, and incorporating light and transparency into the construction. These elements create dynamic, vibrant fa ades.
The signage takes the form of a series of ten photographic images (one per half-level) that, borrowing from the ai???memoryai??? game used by Charles Eames, allows users to mentally associate the area where their cars are parked with an atmosphere, a sensation and a visual reference point.
CREDITS:
Architects: Jacques Ferrier
Location: Soissons, France
Surface: 12 250 sqm
Year/Status: March 2010
Structure: above ground structure
Materials: Concrete Structure, Galvanised Steel Framework, Timber Cladding
Project team: Emmanuel Coudert (project leader), Corentin Lespagnol (image conception), David Juhel, Harold Chaveneau
Client/Contractor: Communaut d Agglom ration du Soissonnais
Partner/Consultants: Landscape Designer : Agence Ter, Signage: Laboratoire Irb Ruedi Baur, Structural Engineers: HDM Ingenierie, Utilities Engineers: Sogeti Ingenierie
Photography: Luc Boegly