Prado Concorde

Valode & Pistre
16. December 2020
Photo courtesy of Valode & Pistre
Project: Prado Concorde, 2019
Location: Castelnau-le-Lez, France
Client: Helenis (subsidiary of the GGL Group) Opalia
Architects
  • Valode & Pistre (lead)
  • Antoine Garcia-Diaz (Partnership Urban Project)
  • Tourre & Sanchis (social housing)
Site Area: 1 ha
Floor Area: 28,000 m2
Photo courtesy of Valode & Pistre

The accommodation architecture systematically gives pride of place to the external extensions of the dwellings so that residents can make the most of the advantages of the climate. A genuine outdoor room increases the habitability of each dwelling, a living space where everyone has their own tree providing shade at meal times.

Photo courtesy of Valode & Pistre

To achieve this objective, the project exploits an innovative concept of a large balcony whose triangular geometry with variable cross-section takes up the efforts through cantilevers in line with the tree container built into its thickest part. This high- performance prefabricated concrete component is systematically offset between floors to allow enough air for each tree to grow.

Photo courtesy of Valode & Pistre

The advantages of these balconies go beyond their practical use; the play between their offsets and inversions and the combination of triangular prisms floating one above the other bring movement and lightness to the façade like a flight of birds.

Photo courtesy of Valode & Pistre
336 apartments

  • 162 student campus rooms
  • 143 privately-owned apartments
  • + 522 private and public parking spaces

Photo courtesy of Valode & Pistre
Program Areas

  • Privately-owned housing: 10,000 m2
  • Social housing: 6,000 m2 
  • Retirement homes: 4,000 m2 
  • Student campus: 4,200 m2 
  • Montessori school: 1,000 m2
  • Shops, businesses, offices: 3,000 m2

Photo courtesy of Valode & Pistre
Terraces and Trees

  • 116 cantilevered terraces of 15 m2 (the equivalent of an extra room per dwelling);
  • The variable cross-section terraces allow a tree to be planted in a metre of earth approximately;
  • Planted at 3 m, they grow to 6 m;
  • They will be arranged on the edge of the island facing the sunny side;
  • Tree species: Laurus nobilis - Bay tree; the tree is especially interesting given its hardy foliage; it remains green all year long, forming a perfect screen, its flowers are perfumed and its leaves are edible and used in cooking.

Photo courtesy of Valode & Pistre
Drawing: Valode & Pistre
Drawing: Valode & Pistre
Drawing: Valode & Pistre
Drawing: Valode & Pistre
Drawing: Valode & Pistre
Drawing: Valode & Pistre
Drawing: Valode & Pistre

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