A/ZC: fonderie

‘fonderie’ by A/ZC in mulhouse, france all images courtesy A/ZC

‘fonderie’ by paris-based atelier A/ZC (irina cristea, grégoire zündel) is a multi-storey medical office and facility in mulhouse, france. located on a narrow corner bound by two streets, the asymmetrical design manipulates its volume and shape to provide sufficient internal space as well as to achieve adequate urban proportion to its site.

overall view

in response to the project brief which called for the creation of two separate sectors – office, consultation rooms – the design establishes the division on two floors. a small basement level is created to accommodate sixteen parking spaces as well as the boiler and archives. a partial third-level is also generated by pulling up the volume on the west side, which resulted in a graphic and dynamic roofscape clad in metal. cuts and recesses are made in the form to allow sunlight to enter the interior.

roof form

finished in a skin of red, factory-like bricks, the exterior material expression contrasts with the angles and shapes found in the jagged roofline. while the outside possesses a solid character, the inside features moments of transparency and playfulness. the spiral staircase on the northwest corner of the layout is bound by two glazed surfaces, directly connecting the occupants with the street; the use of bright shades of blue define and differentiate the spaces within. 

spiral staircase

interior view

approach

site plan

section

section

project info:

client: general council of haut-rhin consultants: SBE + E3 gross area: 1290 m2