Youth House Of Culture And Knowledge

Youth House Of Culture And Knowledge
Courtesy of 2NE Architecture

YOUTH HOUSE OF CULTURE AND KNOWLEDGE

2NE Architecture

CONTRACTOR
Community of Communes La Chatre Sainte-Sévère

COST
€ 2 006 688

AREA
1652.0 m²

YEAR
2012

LOCATION
La Châtre, France

CATEGORY
Youth Center

Youth House Of Culture And Knowledge
Courtesy of 2NE Architecture
Youth House Of Culture And Knowledge
Courtesy of 2NE Architecture

Text description provided by architect.

Reorganization of an old agricultural college to include four meeting rooms, classrooms, activity rooms - Construction of a building of 1050 m² including an auditorium with 300 seats, a dance studio, a gym, a foyer and a exhibition space.

Youth House Of Culture And Knowledge
Courtesy of 2NE Architecture
Youth House Of Culture And Knowledge
Courtesy of 2NE Architecture

With its terrace filled with magnificent trees and traditional houses, the Place de l’Abbaye is one of the most beautiful places in the village of La Châtre.

The location of the new building was chosen to preserve the old school buildings and maintain a distance from the perimeters of neighboring sites.

Youth House Of Culture And Knowledge
Courtesy of 2NE Architecture
Youth House Of Culture And Knowledge
Courtesy of 2NE Architecture

The height of the building and the layout of the external landscaping were chosen to minimize the ground-works.

The public access road to the project is designed to indicate the public nature of its program. Gabion walls and a row of trees stretch out to the square.

Youth House Of Culture And Knowledge
Courtesy of 2NE Architecture
Youth House Of Culture And Knowledge
Courtesy of 2NE Architecture
Youth House Of Culture And Knowledge
Courtesy of 2NE Architecture

The geometry, the vegetation and the stone walls echo the atmosphere to which they leading at the building’s entrance.

The new part of the project has a very simple volume. A large volume suspended over an entirely glazed basement. At the rear, there is a lower volume. 

Youth House Of Culture And Knowledge
Courtesy of 2NE Architecture
Youth House Of Culture And Knowledge
Courtesy of 2NE Architecture

Above, two volumes, which are barely visible, theatrically create large light-wells above the principal circulation through the whole project.

The simplicity of the volumes is softened by the lightness and preciousness of the materials used:

- The external cladding is in dark wooden open slats, horizontal for the principle volumes and vertical for the taller volumes.

Youth House Of Culture And Knowledge
Courtesy of 2NE Architecture
Youth House Of Culture And Knowledge
Courtesy of 2NE Architecture

These wooden cladding elements are of various lengths and depths, and are arranged in a random manner to integrate and control the contrasting aspect of the ageing of the wood. This also reduces, at various scales, the sheen effect from this material.

- The glazed section uses a curtain wall system with glass screen printed with a white pattern that amplifies the iridescent effect of the building. It’s smooth, finished nature is in total contrast with the overhanging wood.

Youth House Of Culture And Knowledge
Courtesy of 2NE Architecture


Youth House Of Culture And Knowledge
Site Plan


Youth House Of Culture And Knowledge
Diagram


Youth House Of Culture And Knowledge
Plan
Youth House Of Culture And Knowledge
Elevations
Youth House Of Culture And Knowledge
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