NBJ Architectes: Gipes

The project is an interior renovation of an existing building and seeks to establish a coherent whole operation by adapting the program to the needs and uses of new users.

The intervention is essentially a reorganization of interior spaces, limiting interventions on buildings and ensuring optimization of quality and comfort of use. The general principles of circulation of the old building are maintained and adapted to the standards required by the change of destination. 

To provide a spatial quality and attractiveness to the central atrium, the “hanging boxes” are deposited along the passageways in level 1 and level 2. They are spaces of conviviality and collaboration between students, teachers, and administration. The staggered views offers a real centrality to what was previously a simple empty. These entities are involved in both the formation of identity and its new usability.

The exterior of the building has been preserved, only a fire escape is added on the “pinion” fronts to meet safety standards. In addition, the work was to compliance the building both in terms of standards with disabilities (physical, visual, auditory) and technical standards.

The building is divided into three distinct parts, a linear part Northwest, South-eastern part of curved shape, and a south-western part of triangular shape. It has an area of 6830 square meters. The main entrance is located on the North-western part. A curtain wall curved back cover acts. The Southeast side welcomes an atrium in the center of the entire height of the building, and is lit by skylights in the roof. These areas feature classrooms. The South-western part extends mainly ground floor, only certain technical areas are level 1.

Inside the building, there is a hierarchical development allowing the information to be transmitted to users. Each level is indicated by a different color from yellow to purple. The existing building has in its composition a strong horizontal and dominant facade, which is voiced by headbands windows, horizontal sun and breezes. These horizontal lines are directly integrated in the project through the front design of the fire escape added at the end of the North-western part. It was the only added element and changing on facades. Which appeared first as a constraint was a major rewrite of the project asset. This is thanks to a game of transparency, this relatively flat facade was put into perspective by working on the colors of the adjacent rooms. And a set thickness and depth were made to transform the image of the building without changing the existing facades.

GIPES – Institut de Formation des Professionnels de la Santé, Avignon, France
Program: school
Architects: NBJ Architectes
Client: Région PACA – Direction des Lycée
Area: 6,830 sqm
Completion: December 2012