Forum in Saint-Louis by Manuelle Gautrand Architecture

Forum in Saint-Louis
Forum in Saint-Louis
Photo © Guillaume Guerin

Located in Saint-Louis (Alsace, France) in the “Three Borders” region and in the inner suburb of Basel, the “Forum” is a 5.713 sqm cultural facilities designed to host associative, sporting and cultural events.

Forum in Saint-Louis
Photo © Guillaume Guerin

The wish was to create a unified project, playing on both the multiplicity of the connected volumes, and on a global homogenous design. The building, made of 13 distinct volumes assembled in one big puzzle at the center of the site, is a harmonious answer to the surrounding individual houses.

Forum in Saint-Louis
Photo © Guillaume Guerin

In the same time, the choice of a unique material for the whole building – a copper-colored expanded metal – makes it original equipment and a landmark in the city of Saint-Louis.

Forum in Saint-Louis
Photo © Guillaume Guerin

The inspiration has come from the context, which combines big orangey interlocking tile roofs with some industrial brick chimneys reminding the industrial past of the site.

Forum in Saint-Louis
Photo © Guillaume Guerin

Inside the building, the spaces flexibility is maximal: two main adjustable subspaces have been created.

Forum in Saint-Louis
Photo © Guillaume Guerin

The Great Hall (1.870 sqm), dedicated to host sport practice, competitions, shows, concerts or fairs, can be adapted thanks to a mobile bleacher and a set of retractable sliding partitions.

Forum in Saint-Louis
Photo © Luc Boegly

The Festival Hall (870 sqm) also hosts shows and fairs, as well as associative events or banquets and weddings, thanks to a kitchen placed right next to it.

Forum in Saint-Louis
Photo © Luc Boegly

Those two big areas can be independent or opened on each other if the use of the entire building is required. A dynamic thermal simulation was used to reach a very good energetic efficiency.

Forum in Saint-Louis
Photo © Guillaume Guerin

This level of performance has been achieved thanks to two envelopes with complementary functions: A first structural envelope forming the core and shell while guaranteeing thermal and acoustic insulations.

Forum in Saint-Louis
Photo © Guillaume Guerin

And a second skin of expanded metal mounted over the core and shell, creates a wide plenum allowing great thermal protection. Source by Manuelle Gautrand Architecture.

Forum in Saint-Louis
Photo © Guillaume Guerin

Location: Gissy, Saint-Louis (68), France
Architects: Manuelle Gautrand Architecture
Principal Architect: Manuelle Gautrand
Project Manager: Cécile Ortolo
Structure engineers: AIC
Fluids engineers: ALTO
Economy: CHOLLEY
Acoustic: JP LAMOUREUX
Fire Safety: CSD-FACES
Roads and networks engineers: OTCI
Management and coordination: C2Bi (Strasbourg)
Technical controller: Qualiconsult (Strasbourg)
H&S Coordination: Veritas (Didenheim)
Client: CITY OF SAINT-LOUIS
Area: 5.713 Sqm
Year: 2016
Photographs: Guillaume GuerinLuc Boegly, Courtesy of Manuelle Gautrand Architecture

Forum in Saint-Louis
Photo © Guillaume Guerin
Forum in Saint-Louis
Photo © Guillaume Guerin
Forum in Saint-Louis
Photo © Guillaume Guerin
Forum in Saint-Louis
Photo © Luc Boegly
Forum in Saint-Louis
Photo © Guillaume Guerin
Forum in Saint-Louis
Photo © Guillaume Guerin
Forum in Saint-Louis
Site Plan
Forum in Saint-Louis
Ground Floor Plan
Forum in Saint-Louis
Section
Forum in Saint-Louis
Section
Forum in Saint-Louis
Structure
Forum in Saint-Louis
Scheme Program
Forum in Saint-Louis
Scheme sustainability

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