The multipurpose room is built from Aleppo pine wood, a material used in construction years ago, and from local forests. The walls are made of a box-type wooden structure made of glued slats and the base on which the building is located is made of planchette-type concrete. This base is expanded to be able to integrate access ramps and terraces that are protected from the sun by awnings formed by a metal structure that supports Aleppo pine wood slats.
Maurice Darbellay Room by Atelier Régis Roudil Architectes. Photograph by Florence Vesval.
Project description by Atelier Régis Roudil Architecte
Location
Located at the end of a residential area, the multipurpose room is bordered to the north by a future park and old umbrella pines, to the east and south by tennis courts. The building, placed on its base, is made entirely of wood, Aleppo pine, gray meadow on the facade.
The building is designed so that it can open widely, like a courtyard which would provide shelter from bad weather or the sun to enjoy the outdoors. First project in the Aleppo pine, timber sector, supported by the forestry municipalities, fibois paca, the Town Hall, the project reasons with its environment, then naturally finding its place in the site.
The project is located in the town of Coudoux, near the A8 motorway. It is accessible to vehicles from the Stadium driveway. Located in the southwest of the town of Coudoux, the tennis club is near suburban housing. The planned building is located in the AI cadastral zone and on plot no. 921. The land is located in the UP urban zone of the PLU.
Maurice Darbellay Room by Atelier Régis Roudil Architectes. Photograph by Florence Vesval.
The project consists of the renovation of the existing club house on the site as well as its extension into a multipurpose room for the town of Coudoux and the tennis club. The initial state of the land presents relatively flat ground and is located to the south of a water retention basin.
The land dedicated to the construction of the new multipurpose hall is currently empty. The project plot is shared by the tennis club, a city stadium, and a BMX field.
Composition of the project
The extension is developed on one level, to the east of the existing building, in strict alignment along the north facade. The construction is based on the principle of four studs located at the ends of a rectangular plan, supporting a roof set back from them. To the South, the withdrawal from the tennis courts makes it possible to free up a terrace space directly accessible from the room.
The positioning of the building on the site establishes a dialogue between the tree-filled retention basin to the North and the main terrace to the South.
Maurice Darbellay Room by Atelier Régis Roudil Architectes. Photograph by Florence Vesval.
The base on which the extension is developed is surrounded by a massive stone wall. This base places the floor of the building 40 cm above ground level, in order to create the foundation of the project.
The project consists of two parts:
- The multi-purpose room, free from any load-bearing point in its central space thanks to a roof made up of a box structure in glued laminated wood from Aleppo pine. This room opens entirely on its largest sides, to the North and South, with sliding folding joinery.
- The blocks which support the roof, completely clad both outside and inside. They are dedicated to services.
Sun protection is provided by awnings made up of a metal structure supporting slats of slatted Aleppo pine wood. They are located at the level of the 4 terraces formed by the removal of the plots from the roof.
The project proposes minimal intervention on the existing building. Removal of all unnecessary partitions and false ceilings to benefit from generous spaces, insulation of exterior walls and repair of paintwork. The heterogeneous facade, having undergone numerous interventions over the years, is completely repainted in green, a green in resonance with the color present on site: the pine thorns, the tennis courts...
Maurice Darbellay Room by Atelier Régis Roudil Architectes. Photograph by Florence Vesval.
The project as a whole (existing and extension) then finds its place in the site, through its location, creating free zones, its materiality and its openings, connecting the different spaces.
Matter
The project is simple, 4 pedestals supporting a recessed roof. This simplicity enhances the site, but also the materiality of the project. In fact, the entire project is built in Aleppo pine, from the structure of the MOBs to the glued laminated framework, to the cladding and furniture.
It has been years since local Aleppo pine was used in construction, although previously it was widely used. The Aleppo pine industry as timber, Aleppo pine from local forests and transformed into Paca, is relaunched. The multipurpose room project is one of them.
The walls are wood framed, the insulation is wood wool, the framework is made on a box floor principle, in glued strips, the cladding is with lap joints, in Aleppo pine, pre-greyed autoclave treated. The box bases are made of Aleppo pine battens to integrate the lighting fixtures and acoustically treat the room. The interior furniture, counter and shelves are also made of Aleppo pine.
Maurice Darbellay Room by Atelier Régis Roudil Architectes. Photograph by Florence Vesval.
To protect the wood from the ground, the project rises on a base, a planchette concrete base. This base widens to integrate access ramps and terraces, made of deactivated concrete, surrounded by a low stone wall from Vers Pont du Gard. This low wall rises to form a totem, a signage support.
The height of the base is 40 cm, it allows seating to enjoy tennis matches.
The surrounding soils are homogenized into gravel allowing the different altimetries of the site to be connected. The permeability of gravel allows natural infiltration of water.
The existing building is completely repainted in green, green of the pine thorns, green of the tennis courts, so as to subtly integrate into the landscape and create a strong unity.
By mixing all these materials, the project reveals its own identity, referring to its context. The concrete treats the relationship to the ground, while keeping the wood away, 4 pre-grayed wooden blocks on their 4 faces carry a covered glued laminated frame. The sliding folding wood joinery opens entirely to the North and South, removing the limits of inside/outside.
