a/LTA's winning Intergenerational Residence proposal in Rennes, France

Open communal living and the integration of urban structures and nature have become popular features when it comes to the future of residential living and design.

These concepts can be found in the proposal of a/LTA architects' Intergenerational Residence design competition for the ZAC de Beauregard neighborhood in Rennes, France.

Read more about it right below.

Project description:

"This 'city fragment' is conceived as a durable space, open and porous lending itself to new forms of function. The creation of a central garden provides clear and open spaces with unobstructed views for residents or passers-by alike which gives a more fluid link between public and private space, breaking down any impression of isolation. The question of urban density and environment are distinctive elements represented in the development of the project."

"The site (ZAC) is located in a landscape of exceptional quality. The gentle topography of the surrounding plot with its existing wooded lines, make for a very special site with a particular character that needs to be respected. The future project will highlight this character through a design of juxtaposed volumes and a play on light and transparency.  We decided to integrate this 'country landscape' in harmony with the overall urban plan for the area, with a strong leaning towards an atmosphere of shared space and ease of communal living."

"The demands of the program, an intergenerational residence, are ambitious. This 'particularity' is expressed architecturally through its volumetry, typology, functionality and adaptability.  Our design responds to these demands using contrasts of scale and atmosphere. The verticality of the street façade exudes a natural eloquence and serves as an anchor point which grounds the surrounding cityscape. The specific objectives of the program such as the common areas, the shared garden and the individual apartment terraces are treated as organic systems with clear sight-lines and access towards the park and le FRAC.

The principal element of the design is its smooth integration into the surrounding built and  natural environment and the search for balance between urbanized and green spaces. The heart of the site is a 'green' avenue which connects the various existing green spaces of Beauregard leading to the FRAC. Thus creating an interesting relationship between architecture and nature, and an environment where residents can interact."

"The facades have a high percentage of glazing, making for very bright living spaces and the impression of bringing the 'outdoors' inside. The upper level apartments offer a shared space between two separate dwellings. This room is heated and insulated and offers a meeting area linked directly to the flats on either side. It is largely glazed and opens onto the city in the style of an artist’s studio. The façades of alternating glass and metal panels provide an urban scale appropriate for a new addition to the Beauregard skyline while at the same time allowing for the internal organizational comfort of future residents."

"The activity room and artist studios which are scaled down to house size proportions and clad with CORTEN steel aim to pull together the outdoor activity intended for the site. These cells of activity also tie in directly with the FRAC (Odile Deck) their famous neighbour. They are designed as 'follies' that slide in and out of their green surrounds.

The project operates a strict dichotomy between facades which are strongly urban and hard in dialogue with existing domestic façades, bringing movement to the heart of project.  This architecture provides a specific identity which articulates the theme of 'village in the city' the very aim of the project, offering a multitude of possibilities for exchange and  interaction as people come and go."

Project data

Location: ZAC Beauregard-Qunicé_Rennes (35) 
Client: NEOTOA 
Date: Competition 2013 (1st Prize) / ON GOING 
Cost: 10.1 M€. 
Area: 8.350 M² (housing + activities + artit's workshops) 
Project Architect: a/LTA architectes _ le trionnaire (x2) - tassot - le chapelain (project manager A.Plantady)  Engineerin : Ouest Structures + ALBDO + CDLP + Acoustibel + Desormeaux Paysagistes 
Performance: BBC / RT 2012

Images courtesy of a/LTA architects