L'Annexe

Project idea

Renovation and transformation of a disused barn behind the town hall of Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Mesmin (FR) into a community space celebrating local heritage, craftsmanship, and social gathering.

Project description

Located on a parcel behind the town hall of Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Mesmin (FR), a former communal storage building has fallen into disrepair. The project aims to address this situation by deploying an architectural program rooted in local culture - a celebration of memories, know-how, local employment, and maintenance as an act of civility. Situated between the Val de Loire and Sologne, the project benefits from its strategic location along the Loire à Vélo cycling route near Orléans. The barn, historically used for family gatherings, Saint-Jean celebrations, and wedding banquets, is to be reopened and transformed. In a first phase, the project removes the wooden cladding from the barn's façade to reveal its timber frame structure, creating transparency and visual connections. The existing barn structure becomes an open hall that can host cultural events, assemblies, and weddings. In a second phase, an extension in wood is added to provide proper thermal insulation, replacing doors with glass panels and timber lattice inspired by the barn's original character.

Technical information

The project employs a local supply chain approach, sourcing timber construction materials and craftwork from enterprises within the Orléans region. Solar, wind, and temperature diagrams inform the environmental design strategy. The construction integrates local wood framing (charpente), timber cladding, and bio-sourced insulation materials. The renovation preserves the existing timber structural skeleton while adding thermally efficient envelope extensions. A network of local suppliers including sawmills, timber frame specialists, and bio-energy enterprises is mapped within the regional context.

Documentation

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