Apprentice Formation Centre / AIR
Architects: AIR / Cyrille Hanappe & Olivier Leclercq
Location: Saint Maur des Fossés, France
Project team: David Pereyron, Noémie Pons Rotbardt, Arthur Couprie
Engineers: Betom
Acoustic Consultant: AYDA (Yves Dekeyrel)
Budget: $4,6M Euro
Project Area: 2,749 sqm
Project year: 2007-2009
Photographs: Denis Ferrattier, David Boureau
The extension of the Apprentice Formation Center is a compact and economic building. It achieves the composition of the complex of the Chambre des Métiers of the Val-de-Marne Departement, near Paris.
The raw yellow concrete facade gives a clear identity to the building. It comes down on the ground and back up again the previously existing building, creating an open air sunny room, a generous public space linking the old and the new. On the existing building, the concrete defines an extension of the cafeteria.
In a game of inversion, the new building backs its concrete facade and is based on a complex steel structure. The long span (20m) of the plumbers workshop is assured with full height beam that frames the second floor. The triangulations of these beams give the diamond shape of the upper level windows and the inclination of the zinc.
- © Denis Ferratier
- © Denis Ferratier
- © Denis Ferratier
- © Denis Ferratier
- © Denis Ferratier
- © David Boureau
- © David Boureau
- © David Boureau
- © David Boureau
- © David Boureau
- site plan
- ground floor plan
- level 02 floor plan
- section 01
- section 02
- section 03
































































clean!
Real nice ! Is Air based in Paris ?
Thank you for the comment. Yes we are based in Paris !
There are very few comments here because the deserved negative remarks have been removed. Absurd policy.
10 minutes et pas encore censuré ???
mario bijou, cette intervention est particulièrement déplacée.
Qualifier cet oeuvre de “moche” révèle bien que cette construction est réussie puisqu’elle ne vous laisse pas indifférent… Mais, là, ça doit vous dépasser puisque l’on aborde le domaine de l’Art…
Coridialement
I enjoy this building.
The raw yellow concrete facade and design give an innovative side for a school : I find it dynamic.
Important point of view : I’m very surprised by the low budget (with the description)and the result.
Congratulation to AIR !
a really great building
i like the color, it is warmly
and the dynamic of the volume
This building is good !
First, I saw the yellow color and nice shape.
Then I realised it was a huge and massive yellow raw concrete facade.
This shape made of concrete is brilliant.
The plan behind this facade is also very rational. The section 1 shows a Warren.
Nice contrast beetwin glossy zinc and concrete.
I really appreciate this building.
Well, happy to see good french architecture.
Ni aveugle, ni des leurs… désolé, je garde ma liberté de pensée comme vous d’ailleurs.
Je dis ‘oeuvre d’art’ car effectivement, comme toute construction, elle est issue d’une réflexion intellectuelle et elle a, en la matière, donné naissance à un bâtiment unique.
Je pars du principe que lorsque je trouve quelque chose de ‘moche’ (oui, ça m’arrive comme vous) je cherche avant tout à comprendre la démarche intellectuelle, et j’apprends beaucoup plus qu’en jetant un simple qualificatif qui n’apporte rien à personne. Simple avis perso.
Impressive raw yellow concrete, never seen in such big surface.
Question to Zitoon : what is a warren ?
A warren girder is one of the most efficient girder truss. it’s mainly used for temporary bridges, it can carry both tension and compression (no bending forces).
I’m very impressed that you used it for such a small building. I wonder why? except for the diamond shape of the windows. This kind of huge truss is very difficult to implement.
something is not right here, but i don’t know what is actually is…
I think this is Art !
Brilliant shapes and audacious color !!!
The Warren girder are very esthetic.
French & arty architecture, yeah !