A clear edge
It is one day supposed to be the "French Silicon Valley": Close to Paris, an ambitious eco-quarter is currently taking shape. It is a versatile showcase project intended both to function as a center of science and technology and to draw international attention to its combination of ecological living and working. The first buildings on the two-million-square-meter site have already been completed and include important pillars in the infrastructure of the project, such as the energy control center for the usage and distribution of geothermal energy in an intelligent heating and cooling network. In light of the ecological guidelines, only sustainable materials were considered for cladding the new structures: For the façade, Fricout-Cassignol architects examined the broad range of products Rieder offers and chose concrete skin panels in polar white, as well as sharp-edged formparts.fab elements for the corners.
Rieder’s environmentally friendly fibreC material, made of fiberglass-reinforced concrete, proved an extremely good choice here: Made from natural resources, it is non-flammable, long-lasting, and free of harmful substances such as crystalline silicon dioxide. The look of the façade also scores points thanks to the use of Rieder products: Since the formparts.fab elements of molded concrete are assembled from multiple sections and formed with an edge of just three millimeters, there is plenty of scope for design. Customers can choose a different color, surface and texture for each side, and the form can also be individually planned, with the result being endless possibilities for the design of innovative façades. Here in Saclay, the interplay creates a dynamic building shell formed of vertical lines of varying widths, while the alternation between closed and open areas also creates a pleasingly airy impression. It’s a stylish and thoroughly Rieder signature – in keeping with the site’s outstanding environmental footprint. (am)
