Download PDF - Danpalon

A warm water springin a mining areaSAREA - Mr. Sarfati,Architect in Paris, FranceTel: +33 (1) 58 14 24 00alain.sarfati@sarea.frThe new Béthune water centre creates surprisewith its special atmosphere.When visitors enter the Béthune water centre, they areinvited into an unexpected world. One of volcanoes,Icelandic geysers and the black sand beaches of Réunionor Mayotte…This is a public institution, rebuilt for new activities thathave moved away from sport towards body care andrecreation. It offers the inhabitants of Béthune foursporting and play pools, a waterslide and well-beingareas.“« The watchword of this project is geology, explained the architect Alain Sarfati ofSAREA. We are in a mining area, which is the defining point of the history of theregion. We wanted to create a link with the past by playing around with a volcanicatmosphere. That’s pretty symbolic”.The materials, textures and colours all evoke this world. Right from the entrance,tectonic plates materialise from the ground, next black stone appears around thepools and then crystallised minerals that look like precious stones signify the area forrelaxation and body care.Danpalon covers the entire east face. With its “sulphurous and oxidised” colours andvigorous shapes, it evokes this volcanic universe.“We were looking for translucent light and not transparency. It was not the outsidelook that was interesting, but rather the lighting contribution to the interior. For theimagination to work, sight must not be disturbed by an overly present reality. It is morea matter of creating an interior world, a place to dream”, concluded the architect.Installation contractor: Entreprise Generale Baudin Chateauneuf in Lille, France Tel: +33 (3) 20 53 83 00 655 m2 Cladding and Covering of Danpalon 16mm MC Orange 600mmwide panels.Jecko & BollardChristophe Jecko, Architectin Aix-les-Bains, France.Tel: +33 (4) 79 34 05 47There is Danpalon on the southand north sides.Bringing sunshine into theeverydayThe client, “The White Butterflies”, wanted a new building for its vocationalrehabilitation centre and head office, which would meet high environmentalstandards. This association of parents of handicapped persons is recognisedthroughout the region for its dynamism and its corporate citizen approach.Following a period of intense reflection and meetings with architects from the firm ofJecko and Bollard, by July 2007 the project was secured.The 280 handicapped workers, the instructors and staff of the association all cometogether in a place that combines good looks with innovative energy solutions“What was needed was a warm place, at the human level, so that people would feelgood,” explained Christophe Jecko. “That’s why we designed this building in the styleof a “technical school”. No big halls, but small rooms for workshops (200 - 300 m2),grouped around a central storage area. The rest area was given special attention. Andeven though it was facing north, there was always sun, thanks to orange Danpalon”.The choice of Danpalon was also made for itsthermal properties. It has been used on both thenorth and south sides. The architects sought lowcost, thermal comfort: no air-conditioning, rooms thatare entirely solar heated, including the workshops,and solar panels to heat the boiler.As an exemplary achievement, the Aix-les-Bainsvocational rehabilitation centre was on show at thethird national Energy and Solar Conference in 2006.8Installation contractor: Alu Concept Habitat in Aix-Les-Bains,France Tel: +33 (4) 79 35 25 31 E-mail: eric@alu-concept-habitat.com 426m2 Danpalon 16mm MC Orange and Crystal 600mm, in single and double skin.9