MVRDV shapes housing as geological formation in rennes, france – Designboom

much-needed housing for a growing city

The architects at MVRDV presents the newly completed Ascension Paysagre housing complex in Rennes, a city in the northwest of France. The project is realized with co-architects ALL for real estate developer Groupe Giboire, and is sited at the confluence of two rivers, the threshold between the center and its outer reaches. Rising twelve-stories and covering 8,200 square-meters, the project introduces much-needed density to the growing French city. Thus, it provides 138 homes across a range of sizes and prices including thirty-seven units of social housing. In addition, the work introduces new commercial and public spaces, all along a landscaped riverfront.

images Ossip van Duivenbode|@ossipvanduivenbode

MVRDV introduces its Ascension Paysagre to Rennes, France at a time of rapid growth. The architects note that the citys central heritage buildings have shifted this expansion pressure outwards, calling for the periphery to grow either outwards into the countryside or preferably upwards with a pleasant approach to densification. With its highly visible location along the confluence of the Ille River and the Vilaine, the project required an exemplary approach to this perimeter densification.

With the design of its Ascension Paysagre residences in Rennes, France MVRDV took inspiration from geological formations. The team explains: The project comprises two curving buildings, one large and one small, with gradually receding slopes. By the river, and at points where the project approaches its neighbors, the buildings are low, acknowledging the expansive, low-rise context.

Elsewhere, the design gradually steps up into three peaks, reaching the maximum twelve-story height in the centre of the site. The terraces created by these gradual step-backs are decked with pots filled with greenery, extending the lush atmosphere of the riverbank upwards to the apartments even at the very top of the building. On the western corner of the larger block, in between the buildings two peaks, a garden including fruit trees emphasizes this green approach.

The faade reinforces the connection to geology. It features both matte and glossy ceramic panels in five different tones of grey, arranged into stratified layers: dark and mostly matte near to ground level, and lighter and glossier at the top levels.

At night, lighting reinforces this effect, with more lights integrated into the ceramic panels at the top of the building. As a result, the design seems as if it truly belongs an outgrowth of the environment itself, which feels natural even as it significantly densifies this part of the city.

Each apartment opens up with its own outdoor space be it a terrace, a balcony, or a loggia. Each of these comes complete with custom plant pots fitted with automatic irrigation as well as a dedicated water tap to help residents care for their piece of the landscape. The terraces create a village-like atmosphere that allows residents to greet their neighbors above and below.

At the level of the street, the buildings curves wrap to define pockets of public space, with a green pedestrian street between the two blocks and a plaza at the waters edge that leads to Le Bacchus, a restaurant and theatre that is embraced by the curve of the larger building.

The larger buildings entrances are take shape as three welcoming passageways, clad in timber, which project through the building to create large gathering spaces, views, and access to a secluded garden behind the theater-restaurant. At the entrance to the site, a renovated former tax office is included in the urban plan, making the public square a mix of three architectural periods.

The project uses a variety of approaches to ensure sustainability and social responsibility. Densifying an urban area reduces the citys need to expand into the surrounding landscape, and the parking garages include a total of 210 square meters for bicycle parking, including dedicated spaces for cargo bicycles and electric charging stations to encourage more sustainable transport options.

The thirty-four apartments of the smaller building are completed to Passivhaus standards, giving them the potential to use dramatically less energy than typical apartments. Many of the apartments are double or even triple aspect, with windows on multiple sides of the building to allow cross ventilation and excellent natural light conditions inside.

See the original post here:

MVRDV shapes housing as geological formation in rennes, france - Designboom