lemoal lemoal architectes adds glowing timber structure to tennis club in france

lemoal lemoal architectes delivers the new changing facilities of the garden tennis club of cabourg. the new construction serves as part of an overall site renovation program and further enhances the quality of the space, which is now part of the french national tennis tournament circuit. expressive of the architectural language of the surrounding area, the facilities recall the region’s traditional building techniques, half-timber construction, implemented in a contemporary way.

all images by javier callejas

the design team at lemoal lemoal architectes designs the small building of the garden tennis club of cabourg to integrate harmoniously with its surroundings. this is achieved through a demonstration of the contemporary relevance of half-timbering, a traditional norman structural style. this type of construction introduces the added benefit of a sustainable reliance on local companies, materials, and skills. terra cotta roof tiles, for instance, were manufactured in bavent, a town close to cabourg.

with the garden tennis club at cabourg, lemoal lemoal architectes makes use of the same building principle for the facade as in the half-timbered architecture of normandy. structure and water-resistant skin are distinct in this project. a double layered skin made of exposed polycarbonate, installed inside the wooden sections, forms a light box directly inside the structure. the material quality of the translucent polycarbonate surface ensures consistent luminosity throughout its interior while increasing its presence on the site. thus, the wood on the facades is highlighted by the artificial interior lighting.

project info:

project title: garden tennis club of cabourg, changing facility

architecture: lemoal lemoal architectes

location: cabourg, france

photography: javier callejas