In an understated corner of urban landscape, a former modeler’s workshop has been transformed into a contemplative space L'Atelier where architecture meets artistry, designed by A6A, the project is a tribute to manual craftsmanship and a testament to the firm’s belief that pleasure and care must infuse every creation.
The building itself, originally divided into three parts—a garage facing the street, a walled garden, and a shed tucked deep within the block—offered a canvas ripe for architectural reinterpretation.
From the outset, L'Atelier saw echoes of their own approach in the space, an ideal setting to materialize their vision. The architects sought to craft an environment where experimentation, nature, and architecture blur the boundaries. The project invites exploration, embodying a spatial rhythm that encourages visitors to engage with the environment at their own pace. The journey begins at the street-facing garage, flows into a lush, secluded garden, and concludes in a workshop that feels both contemporary and timeless. Here, L'Atelier fosters an open dialogue between natural and built environments, a dialogue that is critical to the agency's ethos.
Central to the project was the preservation and subtle reinvention of the old, diamond-shaped shed, which, in its previous life, had fallen into a state of decay. Only the peripheral walls and metal frame were salvageable, but L'Atelier viewed this as an opportunity rather than a limitation. A striking new entrance was introduced by opening one of the walls, borrowing proportions from an existing patio opening, which in turn established a distinctive skyline for the space.
The interior is organized with intentional simplicity, allowing a full appreciation of the building’s volume. Only meeting rooms and essential utilities are enclosed, leaving the rest open and airy. The exposed metal trusses above lend a sense of continuity throughout, their structure quietly underpinning the new installations. Three materials take center stage in the space: concrete floors evoke a sense of tectonic grounding; birch plywood, with its natural grain, calls to mind the organic growth of wood; and acoustic flocking on the ceiling provides a touch of the ethereal.
L'Atelier’s commitment to sustainability runs deep within the project. The architects sought to create a self-sustaining, energy-efficient environment, deliberately moving away from over-engineered solutions. A pellet stove provides warmth, while ceiling fans ensure air circulation in both summer and winter. Natural light floods the interior through a large glass roof, modulated by an external blind to control solar gain. Photovoltaic panels on the roof's southern face generate enough energy to cover the agency's needs, creating a system of energy self-reliance. Wood wool insulation, combined with Fermacell linings and a solid concrete slab, gives the building exceptional thermal inertia, ensuring a stable indoor climate year-round.
Natural ventilation is another key feature, with small, strategically placed windows to the south and west allowing for a gentle flow of air once the expansive northern windows, overlooking the garden, are opened. This meticulous attention to both structure and atmosphere ensures that every step within the space feels considered.
