Habitat 76 Headquarters, Rouen, by AIA Life Designers and Bettinger Desplanques.
The new headquarters of Habitat 76 is part of a broader development that also includes housing units designed by AIA Architects and Atelier Bettinger Desplanques. For the Spatium, AIA Architects conveyed the guiding principles and values of the social housing provider through an architecture that is ambitious without being ostentatious. The 6,000 m² of office space reflects an innovative approach focused on energy and environmental performance, as well as on the quality and comfort of the working spaces provided to employees.
Several key cross-cutting themes are expressed in the project’s architecture, functionality, and technical features :
The creation of an architectural and urban landmark contributing to the revitalization of Avenue Jean Rondeaux ; the integration of the project’s programs, emphasizing the coherence between the headquarters and the housing units within a mixed-use, open urban block approach ; the modularity and adaptability of the office spaces, with special attention to the quality of the environments (lighting, acoustics, outdoor areas) ; a commitment to energy performance and cost-effective operation and maintenance ; architectural simplicity as a way of reflecting the values championed by Habitat 76.
To achieve these goals, AIA Architects, along with Rouen-based engineering firm Echos, designed a passive envelope with outstanding technical features. The use of triple glazing with integrated sunshade blinds—accessible by opening the windows from inside—ensures easy maintenance for these high-rise buildings, while also offering optimal solar protection, especially important given their exposure to strong winds.
To provide excellent year-round comfort and ultra-low energy consumption in the offices, nine SWEGON air handling units with heat recovery were installed, paired with very high-efficiency heat pumps (COP of 7 to 10) and geothermal probes to enhance summer comfort if needed—a viable solution in a city like Rouen.
Client
Client : Habitat 76
Project Management Assistant : AMEXIA Conseil
Project Team
General Contractor – New Works Management : Legendre Ouest
Housing Architect – Project Coordination : Bettinger Desplanques
Office Architect : AIA Architects
Space Planner : Hors Limites Architecture
Structural Engineer : BIM Legendre Construction Ingénierie
Electrical & Fire Safety Coordination Engineer : BIELEC ECLA
Cost Consultant : AD FACTO
Acoustic Engineer : AGIR Acoustique
Electrical, HVAC, Energy Optimization, Utilities Engineer : ECHOS
Operations & Maintenance: ENER 24
Program
Offices and housing
Passivhaus certified
Area
Offices: 6,170 m² GFA – Housing : 4,593 m² GFA
Cost
Offices: €10.79 million (excl. VAT) – Housing : €7.28 million (excl. VAT)
Timeline
Competition Winner : October 2018
Completion : Autumn 2021