The “Place of life” of the Muoto agency, Equerre d’argent 2016

For the occasion, the jury of the Silver Square for Architecture prize Monitor gathered under the gold of one of the architectural gems of Auguste Perret (1874-1954), master of reinforced concrete. Monday, November 21, at the Economic, Social and Environmental Council in Paris (former National Museum of Public Works), he awarded the prize for the 2016 edition to the “Place of life” of Muoto in Essonne.

This university equipment was delivered to the Saclay campus on behalf of the Etablissement Public d’Aménagement Paris Saclay (EPAS), the contracting authority and co-recipient of the prize, as required by this distinction. A special jury Grand Prize was awarded to the Rivesaltes Camp Memorial (Pyrénées-Orientales) signed by Rudy Riciotti (agent), Passelac & Roques (partner) and to the Occitanie Region / SAEM Roussillon Aménagement.

Located in Gif-sur-Yvette (Essonne), the “Lieu de vie” combines sports equipment (fitness rooms and two basketball courts) as well as a university restaurant and a cafeteria, for a total capacity of 1000 people. . The whole, managed by the CROUS, occupies an area of ​​4000m2.

Aerial volumetry

Subject to a resolutely orthogonal design, the building resembles a large shelf. The volumetry, aerial and carried by a minimalist concrete framework, allows to attenuate the real proportions. “It’s a building that has no flesh, only bones”, recently declared to the journal Architectures Cree, Gilles Delalex, one of the architects responsible for the Muoto agency alongside Yves Moreau and Thomas Wessel-Cessieux.

In a statement, the jury said they appreciated the position « phare » of this equipment. In the midst of relatively closed establishments, he may “To offer opportunities for meetings and to make oneself the real place of life that he aspires to be”.

Other mentions were awarded during this 34th edition of the Equerre d’Argent. The “Habitat” Prize for 49 social housing units in Saulx-les-Chartreux (Essonne) carried out by Jean & Aline Harari (project management: 3F); the “Culture, Youth and Sport” Prize at the National Circus Arts Center in Châlons-en-Champagne (Marne) directed by Matthieu Poitevin architecture Caractère Spécial § (representative), NP2F (partner) on behalf of the Ministry of Culture and of Communication; and the “Place of activity” award at the “Dôme” in Caen (Calvados) from the Bruther architectes agency (project management: Association Relais d’sciences).

Finally, the Prize for the First Work was awarded to the Hôtel d’Entreprises Innovantes in Anglet (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), carried out by the architects Guiraud-Manenc, a project for which the Côte Basque-Adour agglomeration was responsible for work. Regarding this project, the members of the jury chaired by Michel Dalloni, journalist and editor of the Monitor, notably praised the “Maturity and know-how” impressive architects.

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