Competition

Research Institute | Health – Environment – Work | IRSET | Rennes (35)

Program:

Offices, labs,  research plateforms

IRSET’s commitment to study Humans and their relationship to Environment brought us to elaborate this new building,  and to take into account all the aspects of sustainable development, when considering its implantaion on site, composing its volumes and covering, as well as when choosing the technical systems that will ensure maximum comfort to the users.

IRSET’s project was conceived to respect the immediate surroundings of the new structure and its environment on a bigger scale.

So as to limitate energy spendings, the building is both compact in height and surface, but allowes important natural lights input to come in, respecting the activity requirements of each facility. It also offers the advantage of modularity and an easy evolution for office spaces. During studies or once the building is finished, the assembly of several wings ofvarious levels of thickness and various frames will offer a wide range of facilities, regardless of their size and withtou constructive constraints..

The facades’ design takes into account the daily and yearly sun’s expositions. Therefore, the northern facade is almost windowless to avoid heat losses. Eastern and Western facades are customized with solar protection mobile horizontal blades that adapt to the solarheat gain needed during cold seasons, and are desactivated for the rest of the year. Heading South, overhangs and canopy roofs protect from the heat during summer but also let in the winter passive solar gains.

Following the steps of the MSHB’s line to promote research by opening it to the City,  the new IRSET building is open to its environment.