LAN won the competition for the construction of a fire and rescue center in Rennes, France. Along the Vilaine river, the project is facing another project of LAN, Baud-chardonnet.

The requalification of the entrance of the city of Rennes, incorporating all future projects foreseen at the northern edge of Avenue Francois Chateau and finding harmony in relation to the ZAC Baud-Chardonnet buildings are the predominant urban, architectural and symbolical obligations that this project has to respond to. 

The proportion between the full and the empty (1 to 3) has as a result that the building has to be arranged on the axis of Francois Chateau so that a clear front facade, with urban delineations, is generated.Consequently the space behind the building has a flexible and functional character. The tower, containing the offices and services is located on top of it. The tower shapes a new skyline, vivifying the previous horizon.  

Considering the program and the functionality of the building, the facades have a continuous character; a common facade for all spaces. The windows are characterized by a repeated module of 60 x 100 cm in height.This modularity allows very flexible composition of the interiors. Each office is supplied with a minimum of six windows: two in the lower part, two on the floor level two on the level of the height of the person. In the south facade, which offers views in direction of the river, some openings are treated in a different way. This is caused by the fact that they have to be compatible with the level of coverage. Also the openings of the big sport hall and the meeting room are treated the same way.

During the daytime these openings show what is happening inside while during the night the interplay of holes of the facade transforms the building into a luminous lamp: a building that turns into a nightlight that testifies the permanent devotion of the fire brigade.

All Images © LAN Architecture 

Project Facts

Program:Construction of a fire and rescue center and the departmental fire and rescue services

Location:Rennes, France

Timetable:2013

Client:General Council of Ille-et-Vilaine Department

Cost:€ 11.3M excl. VAT

Surface:8,516 m²

Phase:In Progress

Team:LAN (mandatory architect), Bureau Michel Forgue (economist), Terrell (structure, fluid and facades), Lamoureux (acoustics), Klein (Construction, schedule supervision and coordination)

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