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Concours St Sulpice - architecte Genève

Competition for the construction of the new drinking water production plant
in Saint Sulpice (Vaud - Switzerland) -
  4th Prize

The project is the last landscape sequence bordering the lake. In order to ensure the integration of the new drinking water production buildings with the spatiality of the Parc de Saint-Sulpice, the project strategy is developed according to three key points:  1. A compact volume that preserves the predominance of the landscape.  2. A mineral base that anchors the structure to the ground and adapts to its use.  3. A translucent envelope in glass bricks, which affirms the identity of the project in its relationship between water and light. 

1. It is above all through the volumetry that the project operates its integration into the site. For this purpose, three compact volumes are created, in order to preserve the trees as much as possible.  and thus enhance the natural context. Two volumes are dedicated to Process I and II. The third volume, dedicated to the Network program, takes advantage of the space freed up by the demolition of the filter building,  to be installed in continuity with the electrical substation. The two constructions are unified by a common façade.  The desire to have three simple volumes with unitary facades gives the project its identity: Objects of water and light placed in the park. Through this first gesture, the park dominates the site, where the three pavilions enter into dialogue with the surrounding nature.

2. A mineral and homogeneous base stands out from the functional handling and circulation base of the plant. It anchors buildings to the ground, provides a tough low water and wear line. It opens to access  necessary for the operation and evolution of the equipment.

3. The three volumes are characterized by clean shapes, highlighted by a unitary, elegant and durable envelope, made of glass bricks. The continuous and translucent facades present a triple aspect:

- They function as a wall of light which restores to the exterior,  the organization of the building as a machine. Mechanics, hydraulic pumps, stairs are transformed into graphic elements, where construction and technology transcribe the activity of the building.

- They are presented as a reflective surface, where the reverberation of the environment associates the buildings with their raised context. 

- From inside the buildings, abundant light floods the machine halls. Operators thus work with maximum comfort and safety.

The buildings thus enveloped are covered by extensive green roofs

 

Architect: A&F architects

A&F collaborators: Mehdi Aouabed,

Alberto Figuccio, Leopold Comont, Vincent Caussignac.

Images: A&F architects

 

Landscape architect :MAP Landscape

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