Mixed Bois-Acier construction for the large Louis Vuitton workshop

Inaugurated by Louis Vuitton, the Beaulieu-sur-Layon leather goods workshop, in Maine-et-Loire, constitutes a reference of industrial industrial architecture, but also of mixed wood-acier construction.

Twenty years ago, the architect Dominique Perrault surprised by designing, at Cellier-sur-Loire, a factory as immense as low and melted in the landscape by the polished stainless steel winks of its facade.

While this Aplix factory is currently the subject of an extension, the 16th French workshop of the Louis Vuitton leather worker, who refers to it with his silhouette and elegant discretion, continues the quest for French industrial architecture worthy of the signs ofluxury that she houses.

The workshop of Beaulieu-sur-Layon is a response to controversies around the past relocation of making activities.And also creates a kind of standard from which the group is able to rationally build working areas of which versatile is a guarantee of sustainability.

Aplix Reloaded

Beaulieu's project dates back to the beginning of the decade and identifies a well -connected land, both in the markets and in the brand's Vendean workshops.The agency of-SO enters the scene when, five years later, the group opted for a multiplication of workshops in France: not far from the workshops of Ste Florence in Vendée, the logistics warehouse of the Merlatière is the subject ofAn express conversion (3 months) in the production workshop.

In addition to the creation of a new production site in Beaulieu, Louis Vuitton is scheduled an extension of his Saint-Pourçain site in the Allier, adding the creation of a business restaurant.De-So is not an agency specializing in industry, far from it.

And it is significant that at the time when the multi -purpose hall project of the Mazan woodwork is re -honored as part of the fibra awards dedicated to biosourced architecture, this same emblematic achievement played its role for the selection ofthe agency by its capacity to integrate a project in rural areas.

Because in Beaulieu, we are not avenue Georges V and the challenge is not to have large letters read the name of the brand to the Layon vineyards or users of the A87 motorway.The Aplix factory of Perrault reflects the surrounding countryside while being noticed.That of Louis Vuitton in Beaulieu melts the building in the landscape, while opening it largely on the outside, in particular by the immense uninterrupted bay side.

The beams are supplemented by CLT boxes which serve as a diaphragm.© De-So

The art of diversity

The program is essentially summed up on a covered and free surface of a single holder for approximately 6000 m2, aiming for an environmental certification Breaam "Very Good".De-SO's approach is more rational: 6000 m2, it's 100 x 60 m.

If a beam separates the work in the longitudinal sense, it will be enough to place it in support, perpendicular, beams with a range of about 32 m.The workshops do not require a significant height.This is why the agency simply refers to the maximum height of the bay glazing, or 6 meters.

In mono-material, the BLC beams would go down fairly low.Triangular metal subjugations do the case of the T/E/S/S design office, especially since they will host technical and operating networks.

This mixed frame will act the cover in diaphragm clt panels, while bringing a touch of comfort.The work is entrusted to Briand Construction Bois, experts in Bois-metal.Do not displease the cantors of prefabrication, and for practical reasons, the triangulated beams are reconstructed on site using a template.They immediately associate two BLC beams on the upper side, preparing the installation of the CLT boxes and serving as a lighting support.

These 32 beams rest on the facades side, on fine metal posts that are backwards in places by crosses of Saint-André.In the middle, the beams are based on a fully metallic triangulated central beam, in support on six posts in V spaces 15 m of the same nature.Everything has been designed to appear light and aerial.

Lanterneaux bring an additional zenithale light, the roof having been designed either for vegetation or for the massive installation of photovoltaic panels, supports ventilation equipment on its central stop.

The structural choices make it possible to identify the space for a structure whose total height exceeds barely 6 meters.© De-So

Order and beauty

The facade strictly tramed at 2.5 m precisely prolongs the step of the frame.To the north, it is entirely glazed throughout the height: a challenge in terms of energy efficiency, but the calculations reveal that the ratio between this surface and the entire building is sufficiently low.

For summer comfort, but also for the overall elegance of the work, the roofs are largely overflowing, showing a completely wooden beam, while knowingly playing the finesse of the roofing complex that brings a touch of distinctionat work.

Prefabricated wooden frame opaque boxes are masked on the outside by deployed metal facings.Inside the building, some closed premises stand out from the walls to better read the space.

The facades exposed to the sun are protected by the awning and opaque parts dressed in deployed metal.© De-So

A "big artist workshop" awarded during a competition

Performance in the face of fire is achieved by the visibility of the frame and the opening of the space.As for acoustics, this is the sensitive point of the work.The project planned to dress the triangulated beams of absorbent panels, a solution which was ultimately not retained, in particular because of the insufficiency of its effect.

It is likely that in a second step, or in the case of reuse of plans for other noisier workshops, vertical spells suspended between the beams may be essential, in addition to mobile acoustic parties.

For the time being, acoustic comfort does not question the membership of staff at this workplace which it tends to designate, with a touch of disbelief, as "large artist workshop", in resonance with theNational 2019 wood construction price awarded to the work in the “Work, welcome” category with the “industrial” mention.As for the agency of-SO, the agency has already been able to decline its concept by adapting it to another workshop project of the brand, in progress.

The north facade is entirely glazed, which precisely arouses, among users, this impression of "great artist workshop".© De-So

Source: Batirama.Com/ Jonas Tophoven