By Annie Agarwal
Photography: Courtesy the architect
Read Time: 3 mins
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'Be open', Paris ©Stefan Tuchila & ©Sergio Grazia
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Three buildings, one typology, each faced with a
distinct context. Here’s a look at three commercial buildings by Brenac &
Gonzalez & Associes, the façade of each unique and aptly contextual…
Each building is adorned by a façade as intriguing as
the next. Taking them one at a time:
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| 'Be open', Paris ©Stefan Tuchila |
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'Be open', Paris - facade detail ©Stefan Tuchila
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An urban poetry of city arteries, railway lines and
catenaries forms the backdrop for Be
Open on city block A11, Paris. A
stand-alone building, the building’s skin impresses upon passers-by and
passengers on the train, a limitless profile, ever changing with the light and
weather.
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| 'Be open', Paris ©Stefan Tuchila |
Three volumetric masses – the commercial spaces, a
setback main section and a slightly overhanging attic, rotated and folded, are
stacked to create the entire mass of Be Open. All are cladded, a symphony of white
enameled aluminum tubes, which highlight the curves
and the arabesques of the assembled modules, also giving the building an
evanescent character. The envelope becomes a surface of exchanges inspired from
the exchanges amongst people and their flow, and protects the body.
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Riverside - facade detail ©Sergio Grazia & ©Stefan Tuchila
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Riverside - two-toned building ©Stefan Tuchila & ©Sergio Grazia
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Riverside is a skillful merger of a commercial landmark and a domestic-feel facade.
Faced with contrasting settings, the ring road to the north and heart of the district
to the south, the volume of the office building links the different scales; the
smooth transition enhanced by differing treatment of the facades. Uniform textures
of a prism façade of modules of anodized aluminum and
bright-annealed stainless-steel frames, which mask wooden window frames on the
ring road side, give the impression of a large scale, shimmering urban landmark.
The powerful identity is further accentuated by the lobby at the building’s
corner. In contrast, the south-side façade is a series of wood frames and
coloured solid areas, further enhanced by superimposed balconies equipped with
green trellises.
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| Quai Quest Building – Boulogne ©Stefan Tuchila |
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Facade detail - Quai Quest Building – Boulogne ©Stefan Tuchila
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The renovation of the Quai Quest building, located in Boulogne-Billancourt, saw major restructuring to create a recognizable identity in the changing urban landscape and also to improve its environmental performance. Taking advantage of the site’s potential and overcoming the issues of noise, absence of sun breaks and an outmoded architectural image, the new façade system is based on a ventilated double skin of glass on the interior upon which sun-breaks are affixed. A prismatic covering takes advantage of the proximity to the river. With glass panels folded diagonally to reflect the sky and the changing cityscape, the facade plays on the perception, scale, accumulation and transparence, giving a dynamic second life to the edifice.
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Interiors of Quai Quest Building ©Sergio
Grazia
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In each of the projects, environmental efficiency takes precedence. A system of windows offering abundant natural light, and operable frames
ensuring natural ventilation ensure low energy consumption. Sun breaks and
retractable metal blinds for sun-exposed facades improve building performance.
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| Riverside Building, Gentily ©Stefan Tuchila |
Brenac & Gonzalez & Associes successfully
achieve impressive urban landmarks, dynamic and intriguing in form to fit the
most varied contexts.
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