Dijon, France
“The project responds to a desire for exemplarity, modularity, and intelligence,” states the French practice Gramme Studio.
“It’s designed with a wooden structural skeleton, prefabricated concrete floors, and a wooden exo-structure covered with a glass double skin.”
“The building allows the bank to play a part in environmental issues, displaying its exemplary and unique nature without ostentation.”
As part of its business plan to accelerate its transformation, Caisse d’Épargne Bourgogne Franche-Comté commissioned Gramme Studio to design its new head office in Dijon, within the Valmy business park.
Located on the heights of Dijon in Burgundy, a few meters from the tramway stop, the building is built of seven levels, allowing it to be seen from a distance from the city’s expressway.
Its wooden structure echoes the local resources of the Burgundy region, whose reputation for hardwood and softwood forests is well known.
The seven-story building was designed to provide airy, flexible and naturally-lit workspaces that meet the Passivhaus requirements of using no more than 15 kWh/m2 per year.
The architectural solution chosen made it possible to give better visibility to the bank, a major player in its region, with the use of ecological and sustainable materials at controlled design and operating costs.
The project consists of two elements: a base on two levels, stable and anchored in its land, and an emergence that rises on four levels.
The base is pierced by a patio and a triple-height atrium bringing natural light to all workspaces and to the heart of the building.
They frame the views of the sky, bringing a real quality of life to the employees and a space of calm and peaceful conviviality.
On this base is the emergence which ensures good visibility for the project from the surroundings.
At the crossroads of these two buildings, the roof of the base becomes a large welcoming terrace, accessible from level R+3.
This large horizontal plane is intended to be a friendly place, a place for strolling, and an informal meeting space.
This location is important since it is halfway between the top floor and the ground floor.
The base workspaces have been designed to offer the greatest possible modularity and flexibility.
The approximately 2,000 m² can thus be subdivided into independent premises of less than 300 m².
Inside, thin, almost full-height windows on each floor flood the office spaces with natural light, and the spacing of wooden columns allows for the easy addition of partition walls.
The interior space can be subdivided to create working areas for specific departments or rented out to another firm if needed.
Project: Head Office for Caisse d’Epargne Bourgogne-Franche Comté
Architects: Gramme Studio
General Contractors: Est Métropoles Company
Photographers: Nicolas Waltefaugle
