Beaumont

From the very first sketches, we were obsessed with opening up the rooms to nature in order to take advantage of this exceptional setting. Our approach was to integrate the site's high-quality landscape assets into the project's design; it was the beauty of the landscape that guided our architectural choices, starting with the building's location. We therefore drew up multiple scenarios, created models, and verified our hypotheses in order to find the architectural solution that would obstruct the view of the meadows and the surrounding landscape as little as possible. As a result, the buildings are positioned to the west, offering a view of the distant horizon and the Jura mountains.

The program is clearly visible in the form of a single volume and three emerging volumes. By positioning the large hall to the west, we greatly reduce its visual impact from the pedestrian access. Similarly, the wooden colonnade and the transparency of the sports hall invite visitors to explore the premises and naturally lead them to the building's entrance hall. Finally, the last protruding volume, set further back, gives depth to the volume and allows natural light to enter from two directions. Visual, thermal, and acoustic comfort are the key words that guide our architecture, and this is what we have focused on here.

Given the limited number of spaces planned for the upper floor in the preliminary studies, we felt it was important to consider whether or not to build an upper floor. The choice of a single-story building was motivated by several factors. Firstly, the installation of an elevator has a financial impact in terms of construction and maintenance. Secondly, although the building is located on the ground floor, it seeks to minimize its impact on the land so as not to overly seal the soil. Taking advantage of the natural slope of the land, it is partially elevated above the ground, thus freeing up a permeable space under the walkway. This space can be used as a reservoir and infiltration area for rainwater from the building, complemented by landscaped swales on the plot. We can then effectively manage rainwater on the plot without discharging it into the network and without technically complex systems.