Rectorate Office Building / Hauvette & Associés

Rectorate Office Building / Hauvette & Associés - Facade, Windows, BrickRectorate Office Building / Hauvette & Associés - Image 3 of 14Rectorate Office Building / Hauvette & Associés - Windows, FacadeRectorate Office Building / Hauvette & Associés - Steel, BeamRectorate Office Building / Hauvette & Associés - More Images+ 9

  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  5520
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2007

Text description provided by the architects. The project is designed around a rehabilitated 1980s building whose white external walls had been entirely repainted. Organized around a patio, the main building containing the new rectorate is a rectangular object surrounding the rehabilitated building. Each of its faces has two steel and local wood "drawers", one containing the raised rectorate offices, the other the computer services.

Rectorate Office Building / Hauvette & Associés - Image 3 of 14

The project reinterprets a certain "tropical" architectural tradition that has always successfully combined imported components and local materials. As a result, this office building, which uses sustainable, recyclable and renewable materials is, on the one hand, factory-manufactured, delivered in containers and assembled on site and, on the other hand, uses carpenters working with the magnificent regional woods that are available.

Rectorate Office Building / Hauvette & Associés - Windows, Facade

To reduce electrical air conditioning to a minimum, the building is designed as a sort of sunlight control and management system. The elevations of the main building are clad with a perforated stainless steel skin that subtly shades the windows. The faces of the "drawers" incorporate screens assembled from rot-proof bebeeru wood. The patios, protected by large aluminium and local wood sunbreakers, introduce a soft, relaxing light into the surrounding offices.

Rectorate Office Building / Hauvette & Associés - Fence, Steel

The rationality of the project is made apparent through its strict modularity, with each partition perpendicular to the elevation being repositionable along a 48 cm grid.  The pleasure of working in the building has been accentuated by the incorporation of fast-growing plants into the architecture, as well as attractive species of trees planted in the gardens and avenue trees leading to the car park.

Rectorate Office Building / Hauvette & Associés - Steel, Beam

Project gallery

See allShow less

Project location

Address:Avenue de France, Kourou, French Guiana

Click to open map
Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Rectorate Office Building / Hauvette & Associés" 08 May 2009. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/21526/rectorate-office-building-hauvette-associes> ISSN 0719-8884

You've started following your first account!

Did you know?

You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.