The new headquarters of Crédit Agricole Centre-Ouest in Limoges, delivered in February 2024 by AIA Life Designers architects in collaboration with BVL, AIA Ingénierie, and AIA Environnement, is above all a project rooted in local identity.
This 11,000 m², 3-story building, with two levels of parking and garden terraces on every floor, was constructed with 80% of the work carried out by local companies, highlighting regional know-how such as Limoges porcelain and Limousin timber.
The site is a place of memory, located along the banks of the Vienne River, near the former Naveix port. Until the 19th century, this was where timber from Limousin forests was unloaded for use in porcelain kilns and construction. Nearby is the Royal Porcelain Factory, home to the Four des Casseaux kiln. Classified as a historical monument and now a museum, it represents the excellence of centuries-old porcelain craftsmanship. The project site itself previously housed the Chastagner factory (1950–2000), which was demolished in the early 2010s.
It is on this historic “Casseaux” site that the new Crédit Agricole Centre-Ouest headquarters has been built—marking the first milestone in a wider urban renewal of this gateway to the city, envisioned by both the Municipality and the Metropole.
The building was conceived as a link between the city hill on one side and the riverbanks on the other. It steps down the sloped landscape, integrating a series of terraces open to the riverbank park and the broader surroundings.
The project is structured around four development axes :
– A landscaped park to the south, extending the riverbank environment, including a 130-seat open-air amphitheater and outdoor-connected workspaces.
– An active base open to the city, housing public-facing functions such as bank branches, a 300-seat auditorium, a company restaurant, a reception hall—with its planted roof terrace offering a space for meetings and interaction.
– A three-story office building, a sculpted block of terraces with a central courtyard, accommodating 350 employees and serving as a visual landmark at the city’s entrance.
– A continuation of Limoges’ symbolic features, reflected in bespoke interior architecture.
The architectural approach is built upon local resources: Limousin timber is used in the mixed wood-concrete structural system; the craftsmanship of Limoges porcelain is showcased in the base of the building, where bespoke porcelain modules made by the Bernardaud factory are embedded in the concrete brick façade; and heritage aesthetics are honored through timber-frame inspirations, visible in the vertical and diagonal patterns of the curtain wall design.
To ensure comfort and well-being for employees and visitors, the building maintains a constant dialogue between indoor and outdoor spaces. The brick and porcelain-clad base extends into the reception hall, guiding visitors inside. Shared, densely planted terraces on each floor extend the workspaces outdoors, creating natural breathing spaces. Interior furnishings and layout, designed by AIA Life Designers’ interior architects in collaboration with the client teams, follow a consistent color scheme based on three dominant tones: blues echoing the Vienne River, greens evoking Limousin forests, and browns connecting to the earth and undergrowth of Haute-Vienne.
Certifications and Labels
NF HQE Commercial Building – Exceptional Level
Energy-Carbon Label – E2C1
BiodiverCity Label
Client
Crédit Agricole Centre-Ouest
Design Team
Owner’s Representative : Egis Conseil
Lead Architect : AIA Life Designers
Architect : BVL Architecture
Interior Architecture : AIA Life Designers
Engineering (all trades/costing) : AIA Ingénierie
Environmental Expertise : AIA Environnement
Kitchen Engineering : BEGC
Acoustic Engineering : ORFEA
General Contractor
Eiffage
Program
Office building for 350 employees
Training center
300-seat auditorium
Staff restaurant
Hub for PRO, Business, Local, and Private Banking agencies
Surface Area
11,022 m²
Construction Cost
€35 million (excl. VAT)
Move-in Date
Spring 2024
Photos © Nicolas Fussler