Site specific: a healthcare centre in France is anchored in local vernacular

French practice Samuel Delmas
French practice Samuel Delmas has completed a brand new healthcare centre for the town of Nozay, a short ride southwest of Paris
(Image credit: Julien Lanoo)

Parisian architecture firm Samuel Delmas has created a vernacularly inspired building that aims to provide good architectural reason and healthcare service to keep people from escaping this predominantly rural part of France. Nozay is a town 26 km southwest from Paris, famous for its blue stone but endemic to a condition happening across Europe - the depopulation of the countryside. 

Sitting on a gently sloping hill, the town's new healthcare centre has privileged views over Nozay and its traditional gabled roof homes. The architects reinterpreted these and designed a playful roofscape consisting of seven zinc pyramid-like wells that diffuse soft light into the offices and consultation rooms below, as well as providing natural ventilation.

The environmental approach continues in the building's outer skin: grey vertical zinc fins function as sun shading devices, while providing a natural yet modern aesthetic to the building. The facade is punctuated by large double height aluminium openings, or loggias, strategically positioned in order to frame views from interior spaces. 

The dark envelope - referencing the local blue stone - contrasts with white interiors, inspiring a clean and healthy environment. Healthcare, administration and visitor spaces are arranged around two interior courtyards that serve as way-finding tools on both levels. These enhance the spaces with natural light and a closer relation with nature, an atmosphere favourable to healing and positive thinking. 

The parking lot is located on the lower level of the building, partly sunken into the landscape and clad in blue stone - as if to ground the building further into the local vernacular. The architects carefully sculpted the surrounding terrain into a natural public space by introducing plants, trees, and stone-paved walking paths.

Delmas' project perfectly blends in to the town's skyline and firmly anchors itself to the landscape. Nozéens have a reason to gloat at their town's welcome latest architectural addition. 

Grey vertical zinc

Grey vertical zinc fins function as sun shading devices for the centre

(Image credit: Julien Lanoo)

The architects reference the area's traditional gabled roof

The architects reference the area's traditional gabled roof homes in creating a playful zinc roofscape for the building

(Image credit: Julien Lanoo)

The dark envelope's colouring

The dark envelope's colouring was chosen to reference the area's local blue stone

(Image credit: Julien Lanoo)

the interiors are kept clean and simple

Inside, the interiors are kept clean and simple in whites and light coloured hues

(Image credit: Julien Lanoo)

The layout is punctured by two interior

The layout is punctured by two interior courtyards that serve as way-finding tools on both levels

(Image credit: Julien Lanoo)

The architects aimed for natural light

The architects aimed for natural light and views of the surrounding nature to penetrate the building

(Image credit: Julien Lanoo)

INFORMATION

For more information on Samuel Delmas visit their website

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