SummaryEcologie en mutation - A large scale study of the Loire estuaryAnalysis of the territory
The estuary system is characterized by two major phenomena: the salinity of the river and its flora, and the silt plug. These natural phenomena have increased because of the modification of the riverbed in the nineteenth century.
The salinity front's rebund has resulted in a more pronunced spread of the silt plug, which itself leads to siltation of the Loire. This mud is an integral part of the estuary's ecosystem. However, this accumulation can be harmful to human activity.
To reduce this accumulation, one solution under consideration is to remodify the morphology of the river, or, occasionally recreate foreshores. Based on this assumption we have analyzed the topography and bathymetry of the Loire estuary. By combining these data with different drawdowns' values, we have determined two foreshore areas which we considered essential because of their size and location.
The mudflat storyboard
The southern foreshore is characterized by large reedbeds, separating grassland and other salty meadows. These reedbeds correspond to former branch of the river.
I 've redesigned the morphology of these reedbeds in both plan and section, based on seasonal drawdowns' values. A series of pools of various depths are filled up or not, with saltwater and freshwater, hosting estuarine fauna and flora. A new landscape is given to the walkers, changing as hours and seasons go by.
Ecologie en mutation, janvier 2012
Raphaëlle Hondelatte & Sophie Delhay
Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de NantesEcologie en mutationLes FRANCASThe project is located on the western tip of the island of Nantes, in the heart of the Creation district. The plot is bordered on the north by the Tour d'Auvergne street and east by the Ferblantiers street. To the west, an alley connects the streets of the Tour d'Auvergne and Pierre Landais. The FRANCAS association wishes to build new premises, more spacious, allowing them to host a training center, a library, and offices. A housing program, for young workers will also takes place on the plot.
While separating the two programs I wanted to keep a link between them, to allow residents from the Foyer Soleil to benefit some of the services offered by the Francas, like the cafeteria, or the public space in the heart of the block.
The project has three main parts:
- the base, broken in two which closes the plot to the east and west
- the Foyer Soleil
- the FRANCAS building
The base is entirely occupied by the Francas, as part of their activities it seemed to me that the ground was more important than for a housing program.
The access to the housing program is from the eastern base of the block's heart. The lobby is closed and covered, it's the only link between the two programs. I wanted to reinforce this division, making it really obvious. That's why the Foyer Soleil is build one meter over the base.
Dwellings are accessible from an external passageway. Accomodations from 25sqm to 30sqm are opening on the streets or on the heart of the block. Winter gardens on the east facade provide both intimacy and outside space to the inhabitants. A community room is situated on the top floor.
Habitat : Intimité Mixité Socialité, June 2010
François Defrain
Ecole Nationale suprieure d’Architecture de NantesLes FrancasDas Band - Restructuration of a public placeThe project takes the form of a ribbon whose purpose is to integrate what happens at the very entrance to Bremen’s Viertel. Das Band joins the sidewalks allowing the pedestrians to move freely throughout the square. A broader range of vision is permitted by the materials of the structure.
The person is now rather considered as the main role character and thus the space for traffic is decreased.This enables a feeling of continuity that gets rid of borders offering spaces suitable for interaction and recreation. Hence, this site is transformed once again into a square whose former purpose of enhancing communication among people is fulfilled.
The all new design of the square presents a concrete single level floor that runs all along the crossroads. Wooden plates bordered by zinc frames fold themselves forming tram stop, benches, advertising boards, pergolas, zebra crossing, and finally a kiosk. The simplicity of the structure and its materiality make this a really feasible project.
Interspace, April 2013
Ulrike Mansfeld
Hochschule Bremen - School of architecture
