Silver skin, 45 housing by a/LTA

In the ZAC West downtown of Couëron, a town in the Loire-Atlantique division, part of the historic French Brittany, these 4 residential buildings have been generated, both for regular rent and for social concessions.

45 housing in ZAC West Downtown in Couëron by A/LTA. Photograph © S. Chalmeau.

This residential complex has been designed by the architectural firm a/LTA and is inserted in the urban development of Couëron, France. The plot is framed by 4 buildings that hosts the 45 houses, which are located in the four corners of it, generating a green heart in the center, which grants common space as well as views to all constructions.

Description of the project by a/LTA

We sought a neat volumetry with a cut of the templates to frame the views.

Transparencies and porosities on the city block (layout, crossing hall) offer views of the landscape.

The cutting of the constructions converses with the distant foliage.

The operation consists of 4 housing buildings marking the corners of the plot.

The dynamic implantation of buildings allows conservation of existing trees.

Volumetric cutting offers altimetry variations and visual clearances on the ground.

The whole is articulated by a landscaped space with vegetable and mineral nuances (landscaped parking, collective space and private gardens).

We think that "beautiful" dwellings are luminous, well-oriented and with great views.

This is what we have developed for the 4 buildings with views towards the town center of Couëron or towards the green landscape or the heart of the plot.

Every housing benefits of large external space, South oriented (garden, balcony or terrace).

The periphery of the buildings is treated with polished raw aluminum (cladding and louvre) and the inside of the plot is in gray coating.

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Site location. Axo. 45 viviendas en ZAC West Downtown en Couëron por A/LTA. Image courtesy of A/LTA.

Diagram. Axo. 45 viviendas en ZAC West Downtown en Couëron por A/LTA. Image courtesy of A/LTA.

Axo. 45 viviendas en ZAC West Downtown en Couëron por A/LTA. Image courtesy of A/LTA.

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More information

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Project team

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Le Trionnaire (x2) - Tassot - The Chapelain - a / LTA architects + TPFi + Paysage de l’Ouest

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Client

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Harmonie Habitat

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Delivery

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November 2016

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Surface

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3091 m² + Parking

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Cost

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4.100.000 €

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Program

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45 housing (31 rental + 14 social accession)

Maxime Le Trionnaire, Gwénaël Le Chapelain --- Alain Tassot, Jean-Luc Le Trionnaire ALTA ARCHITECTS

ALTA Architectes - Urbanistes | Le Trionnaire - Le Chapelain is a team structured around four associated architects.

Maxime Le Trionnaire and Gwénaël Le Chapelain, DPLG architects, met in 1997 at the Nantes School of Architecture. After graduating in 2004, they worked in several renowned agencies (Architecture-Studio, Block, Duncan Lewis, Stéphane Maupin, X-tu). The Monitor nominated them for the “First work prize” in 2008. In 2010, they joined forces. Since then they have been developing collaboration and continue to refine their architectural visions.

ALTA Architectes - Urbanistes brings together around twenty employees who work on a contemporary, contextual and responsive architecture Each architectural project tends towards its own singularity, respectful of the suggested program.

In 2014 their agency won the European award “40 UNDER 40” which rewards emerging generation of European architects and designers under 40 years old.

Alain Tassot and Jean-Luc Le Trionnaire, DPLG architects, have worked together in Rennes since 1990. Rich in major projects in the different spheres related to public or private orders, they founded a/LTA Architects – Planners Agency in 2002.