In the picturesque town of Villenave d’Ornon in France, a unique architectural endeavor has taken shape in the form of an extension to the existing communal gardens, coupled with the creation of a new hall for gardeners. The project, masterminded by the renowned architectural firm Esnard Sanz, is a testament to sustainable design and community spirit.
Garden Pavilion Technical Information
- Architects: Esnard Sanz Architectes
- Location: Jardins de Baugé à Villenave d’Ornon, France
- Topics: Shelters, Polycarbonate in Architecture
- Area: 900 m2
- Completion Year: 2022
- Photographs: © Ludovic Lubiato
This project offers a unique opportunity to express an architecture based on the essentials: shelter, shade, light, structure, and material.
– Esnard Sanz Architectes
Garden Pavilion Photographs
Gardeners Hall: Crafting a Community Oasis
At the heart of the project lies the construction of a convivial space for gardeners within a large complex of worker gardens. The design philosophy revolves around creating a versatile space where future usage can be imagined and realized.
The building itself nestles within an existing grove, carefully integrated to avoid impacting the trees. This setting provides a natural canopy, offering shade from the intense heat and a sheltered area for various activities that seamlessly connect with the outdoors.
Esnard Sanz’s approach to this project embodies the essence of architecture: shelter, shade, light, structure, and material. The design strips back to basics, providing protection from wind, sun, and rain while fostering a communal spirit among the gardeners.
Key features include:
- Concrete Wall: A laminated concrete wall incorporates water points reminiscent of the region’s traditional washhouses.
- Timber Frame and Light Roof: These elements form the shelter, collecting and storing rainwater for irrigating the shared garden plots.
- Polycarbonate Sheets in Steel Frames: These create an enclosure, offering wind protection and filtering light and views of the surrounding environment.
The intersection of these three components has been meticulously crafted to remain visible and understandable to the users. This transparency in construction allows for a deeper appreciation of the built environment.
Esnard Sanz’s design philosophy eschews secondary finishes, exposing the structural joints and thereby revealing an architecture devoid of pretense. This approach brings to the forefront a minimalist architecture that focuses on holistic detail construction.
Esnard Sanz’s creation at Villenave d’Ornon is more than just an architectural project; it’s a celebration of community, sustainability, and the harmonious blending of built environment with nature. It stands as a beacon of how architecture can enhance and enrich community spaces, fostering a sense of belonging and connection to the natural world.
Garden Pavilion Plans
Garden Pavilion Image Gallery
About Esnard Sanz Architectes
Esnard Sanz Architectes is an architectural firm co-founded by Bordeaux-based architects Antoine Esnard and Fabien Sanz. They specialize in creating contextually sensitive and straightforward architecture. Their work prioritizes clarity in spatial design and the expressive qualities of materials. They aim to simplify and enhance spaces, emphasizing functionality and the surrounding environment.
Notes & Additional Credits
- Client: Ville de Villenave d’Ornon
- Budget: 1 500 000 Euros
