Many new or recently renovated facilities

The shade of the Sceaux Park, one of the most beautiful gardens in France in the Paris region, designed by Le Nôtre, the town of Sceaux takes his position with dignity. Rich of history, this town of 20,000 inhabitants, formerly sub-prefecture of the former Seine and Oise, is having an administrative tool and home of the public in its measure after all his energy on the cultural buildings are the Gemini, classified national scene, the Trianon, Cinema City, a House of youth with rehearsal studios and a media library frequented by a quarter of the population... Many new or recently renovated facilities. The only black point in this well mesh city remained sis City Hall Street Houdan, main axis of the commune, including classical architecture 19th, consisting of a body of building with two lateral wings on a Court of honour, was more sufficient to allow the Scéens, or municipal staff (120 employees in total). The prefabricated town over time in the Court back and green casting tarnish the atmosphere and undermined the morale of the politicians and employees.

Philippe Laurent, Mayor UDF of seals and Vice President of the General Council of Hauts-de-Seine, so decided to tackle the problem by repeating the idea advanced in 1972 under the mandate of Erwin Guldner of a place adapted to the needs of the city: "I do cache you not that this was a complicated operation to handle." It also warned me that, when a mayor undertaking work in the Town Hall, he was beaten in the following elections. We'll see in 2008, but I am satisfied that was needed. "In 2001, the project is confirmed unanimously the municipal Council and studies can begin.

Between two rivers

One of the main difficulties lay in the "120, rue Houdan", picturesque remains expropriated 1900 party in the 1980s but still dear to residents, which had to maintain the profile. The second challenge was to integrate the surfaces required in a narrow strip of land against the imposing common wall of a garage. Winner of the competition, the architect Daniel Kahane took the opportunity to draw a new wing on four levels. Acquisition in study of the old police barracks in the background of land totalling 900 square metres led to lower all silencing opponents to rise.

Etiré Street at the Court, the building grows in length and pre-paid a new garden created on the back of the Town Hall. "Street, a large showcase clearly indicates the presence of the institution and displays its modernity," says the architect.

Lurking behind the glazing, exhibit and information space to graft skilfully on the facade of the old house 1900, including the beautiful Rotunda and its ornamental stained glass Windows are properly restored. On the ground, a paving reinforces the desired impression of continuity of the street to the Interior. The large lobby developed in the heart is directly accessible from the Court of honour. This volume level, bringing together all movements, takes advantage of the staging designed by Sabine Kranz, Interior architect, poses straight home Bank queue space and venue of the exhibition.

"Mysterious Monolith".

As a thread, long Red Wall leads up to the Council room, wide transparent volume camped on the garden. This institutional space which includes a schedule board room is treated as a multipurpose high-rise room. Simplicity prevails, without renouncing an air of ad hoc nobility. The occultation of the great facade glass garden is done by a system of rotating vertical panes stone of Saint-Maximin, stunning mobile wall which gives the room its wealth and its character of "mysterious Monolith".

New workspaces slide on the first floor treated as "a background concrete gray lasuré doubled from steerable blinds". The fully glazed main staircase offers magnificent views of the Valley, with a double thermal façade for the comfort of the indoor environment. Only marriages room remains in the former 19th building body, including the rear gives on the garden built by a new forecourt.

This large piece of green extended to the former gendarmerie rehabilitated unifies all and tangent Town Hall from one street to another. "The garden is open to the public all day, said the architect, and with three complementary access." Associated with the master of work, cabinet territories of Philippe Convercey and Franck Mathé, landscape, has designed a complete staging to enhance this broad release.

Each of the spaces is kept its own identity, the rear Plaza of Hotel City on the one hand and the Court of the mounted police on the other. Between the two, a large sloping lawn is binding, showing in the slope wall cavernous concrete eaten by vegetation. To the East, a double tilleuls mail rule the relation with existing buildings. The West, a stump of willow accompanies the route and staged the preserved century-old chestnut. Basins flow between the lines, playing the role of leisure, storage of water or pool of water in a response adapted and integrated environmental quality founded the project. In 1 artistic sculptures representing horses glulam cavorting about the former gendarmerie.

"It is truly a team effort, insists Daniel Kahane, all stakeholders until the company Campenon Bernard Construction have played this extension quietly slipped into the landscape of this residential suburb. In total, city earned will be 50 of surface, or some 1,000 square metres, at a cost of TTC 16.9 million.