bamboo clad office building in france by monica donati

‘immeuble bambou’ by monica donati, carré sénart, commune de lieusaint, franceimage © camilla pongiglioneall images courtesy of monica donati et associes

paris-based architect monica donati has completed the first block of a three-phase office complex that occupies the liminal area between city, garden and countryside. built perpendicular to the line d’eau, a tranquil canal in the lush lieusaint region, ‘immeuble bambou’ is remarkable in its use of repetitive building systems to seamlessly weave the architecture into the landscape. formally, the building exploits concepts of interstitial space by boldly bifurcating angled masses and then linking them with generous glazing, alternately translucent or clear. black mullions delineate constructivist patterns across horizontal bands of windows; however, the bamboo skin is the primary method by which the architecture fractures light and form, and additionally multiplies views of the waterscape and expansive greenery. the gently twisting lines of the bamboo create a sun-shielding envelope, while at night, the durable cladding becomes a lantern. each building is equipped with distinctly colorful loggia which afford optimal views of the canal at a height rendered impossible by the existing promenade. the architectonic language looks toward the developed areas of carré sénart and simultaneously pulls nature into its atrium through visual accessibility and extraordinary cladding.