H2o Architects

Refurbishment of an Old Factory into a business Incubator and Training Center

Refurbishment of an Old Factory into a business Incubator and Training Center
© Julien Attard

REFURBISHMENT OF AN OLD FACTORY INTO A BUSINESS INCUBATOR AND TRAINING CENTER

H2o Architectes

ARCHITECTS
H2o Architectes

STRUCTURE ENGINEERS
Bmi

QUANTITY SURVEYORS
M. Virtz

MECHANICAL AND SUSTAINABILITY ENGINEERS
Louis Choulet

EXTERIOR INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERS
France Aires

AREA
1500 M²

YEAR
2013

LOCATION
Pont-audemer, France

CATEGORY
Educational Architecture, Adaptive Reuse

Refurbishment of an Old Factory into a business Incubator and Training Center
© Stéphane Chalmeau
Refurbishment of an Old Factory into a business Incubator and Training Center
© Stéphane Chalmeau

Text description provided by architect.

The EPF Normandie and the commune of Pont-Audemer wanted to convert the industrial site of an ancient paper factory into offices/workshops for different companies.

Refurbishment of an Old Factory into a business Incubator and Training Center
© Julien Attard
Refurbishment of an Old Factory into a business Incubator and Training Center
© Julien Attard

The ancient paper factory is a symbol of an important part of the local working class memory.

The architectural conversion suggested by the agency had three principle axis of development.

Firstly, the agency was careful to preserve almost completely the volume of the factory.

Refurbishment of an Old Factory into a business Incubator and Training Center
© Stéphane Chalmeau
Refurbishment of an Old Factory into a business Incubator and Training Center
© Stéphane Chalmeau
Refurbishment of an Old Factory into a business Incubator and Training Center
© Stéphane Chalmeau

The serial aspect of the construction is emphasized by the creation of a few new spaces which visually cut into the mass of the building. These correspond to new entrances and new uses.

Secondly, the project concentrated on the central common space that links the different workshops, offices and meeting rooms.

It was conceived of as a space capable of facilitating exchanges between the different young emerging companies.

Refurbishment of an Old Factory into a business Incubator and Training Center
© Julien Attard
Refurbishment of an Old Factory into a business Incubator and Training Center
© Julien Attard
Refurbishment of an Old Factory into a business Incubator and Training Center
© Julien Attard

The generous circulation space includes a « street » (the central corridor) and a « square » (where can be found the building’s central staircase) ; these functional spaces become lively meeting places, beyond the strict professional context.

A large roof lighting recalls the function of « passageways » in the 19th century town or covered public spaces.

Lastly, and important environmental component was included in the project from the start, marking a happy contrast with the heavy industrial past.

Refurbishment of an Old Factory into a business Incubator and Training Center
© Julien Attard
Refurbishment of an Old Factory into a business Incubator and Training Center
© Julien Attard


Refurbishment of an Old Factory into a business Incubator and Training Center
© Stéphane Chalmeau
Refurbishment of an Old Factory into a business Incubator and Training Center
© Stéphane Chalmeau
Refurbishment of an Old Factory into a business Incubator and Training Center
© Stéphane Chalmeau
Refurbishment of an Old Factory into a business Incubator and Training Center
© Stéphane Chalmeau
Refurbishment of an Old Factory into a business Incubator and Training Center
© Stéphane Chalmeau


Refurbishment of an Old Factory into a business Incubator and Training Center
Plan
Refurbishment of an Old Factory into a business Incubator and Training Center
Plan
Refurbishment of an Old Factory into a business Incubator and Training Center
Plan
Refurbishment of an Old Factory into a business Incubator and Training Center
Diagram


Refurbishment of an Old Factory into a business Incubator and Training Center
Axonometric

H2o Architects
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H2o Architects
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