Grand Prix SIMI 2020 : AIA Life Designers a winner for Les Jardins du Lou (Lyon) project

AIA Life Designers was rewarded by the Grand Prix SIMI 2020 in the office space over 10,000 m2 category for Les Jardins du Lou project in Lyon. The focus of this project, designed by AIA Life Designers and Albert Constantin on behalf of Foncière Polygone, 6ème Sens Immobilier and Lou Rugby, was to create a living space incorporated into a rapidly-developing neighbourhood and promoting the heritage aspect of an emblematic monument: Gerland Stadium.

The focus of this project, designed by AIA Life Designers and Albert Constantin on behalf of Foncière Polygone, 6ème Sens Immobilier and Lou Rugby, was to create a living space incorporated into a rapidly-developing neighbourhood and promoting the heritage aspect of an emblematic monument: Gerland Stadium.

An office park conducive to well-being and health

The Jardins du Lou program was carried out within a historical site: the athletic games stadium, designed in 1913 by Tony Garnier to host the Olympic Games.

This project is part of a large stadium plot planning program comprising: the rehabilitation of the stadium, the establishment of the "village" (brewery, shop, event halls) and the club's training center (carried out in 2017), then the construction of the Jardins du Lou office park, delivered in 2020, and eventually, a 150-room hotel, a medical center and an aquatic center.

With 28,000m2 of office area and 378 parking spaces, the Jardins du Lou completes the existing sports facilities with tertiary activities to make it a real living place. This unique place offers its occupants work and relaxation spaces, responding to the sport and health objectives intended by the designers of the Gerland stadium.

A masterpiece embracing heritage and urban environment

The design of the Jardins du Lou is committed to pursue three types of objectives: architectural and heritage, to integrate this project into a characterized environment for the presence of a monument, functional, to meet the needs and uses of future clients, and landscaped, to create high-quality shared outdoor spaces.

The establishment of the buildings, perpendicular to the avenue, allows in particular to release new angles of view on the stadium. Thus, the facades of the buildings alternate between rough concrete walls and glass walls. The pinions, affirmed by a strong structure, open to the North and the South, offering the office floors an extension to the outside through large balconies.

The program has also enabled the requalification of part of the surroundings of the Gerland stadium thanks to greening, a redevelopment of the roads, the requalification of the Tony Garnier fences, and the creation of a new entrance, enhanced by the work of art of Bernar Venet.

A project aiming for environmental excellence

The bioclimatic design of the project coupled with the use of efficient systems made it possible to go beyond the initial energy objectives. Les Jardins du Lou project demonstrates a strong environmental ambition by aiming for the following certifications: HQE Excellent, BREEAM Very Good, and E + C- E1C1.

To preserve and develop the biodiversity, have been installed gabions, nesting boxes, beehives, insect hotels, as well as non-allergenic and resistant local vegetation. Besides, the roofs of buildings reach a greening rate of 49%.

For rainwater management, the site offers plot water management: water retention on the roof, then infiltration allowing zero discharge. The waterproofing coefficient is 65%.

To promote efficient mobility, nearly 400 bicycle parking spaces have been installed in the basement of the building, with a cloakroom and some showers, as well as 24 parking spaces are equipped with charging stations for electric vehicles.

Finally, in a circular economy logic and in order to allow the revalorization of the land, a preliminary sorting, in the form of screening and buffer storage was carried out, making it possible to revalorize about 20% of the excavated soil.

Project Owner : Foncière Polygone, 6ème Sens immobilier, Lou Rugby SASP
Architects : Albert Constantin and AIA Architectes
Engineering and Economics : AIA Ingénierie
Landscaping : AIA Territoires
Developer : Foncière Polygone, 6ème Sens Immobilier
Surface area : 28,000 m² floor area
Cost of works : Buildings (€54M excl. VAT) – Car park (€12.5M excl. VAT)
Delivery date : 29 June 2020