TAA Agency presents one of its projects: "Vivre Ensemble," which involves the construction of a new senior residence with 92 apartments, 48 collective housing units, and two commercial spaces on the "Launaguet" block of the Cité Blanche in Toulouse (Occitanie region, France).
From its inception, this real estate project has been designed to fit into an existing location and territory, bordered on one side by urban development and on the other by nature. It is this natural environment that inspired us. We sought to preserve a high-quality landscaped environment, integrating mature trees with new plantings to maintain ecological corridors and address several key challenges:
- Urban Challenge: Creating a new entity that integrates into a site advantageously connected to a network of pedestrian and cycling paths, and close to urban facilities.
- Landscape Challenge: Preserving the site's existing tree heritage and implementing a landscape treatment to minimize the visual impact of future buildings, while maintaining a visible built frontage.
- Social Challenge: Developing living spaces such as green areas for rest, relaxation, walking, and various activities in a multi-generational space.
The Launaguet block is ideally located along the street, facilitating the operation of commercial spaces, with direct access to the park, which enhances the quality of life for both the senior residence and the housing units beyond the block. The proposed project complies with the lot specifications established by urban planners. In fact, we have maintained the desired urban alignments along the Route de Launaguet and the new east-west road, with an opening in the heart of the block, in continuity with the "Arsonval" block, and a façade overlooking the park to the south. Most importantly, we have been able to preserve the two existing trees on this block.
In terms of layout, Vivre Ensemble has been designed with a central core distributing access to the senior residence. The two senior buildings are accessible from the block's outdoor spaces. The activity spaces and common areas of the senior residence are visible and accessible from the Route de Launaguet. The social housing units have an independent entrance on the new road. Parking has been contained under the built area on one or two levels. The parking areas for the senior residence and social housing are located underground, spanning one or two levels.
To comply with the lot specification program, we proposed a stepped design with shared courtyard easements connecting to the "Arsonval" block. This approach allows all apartments in the senior residence and the social housing building to enjoy unobstructed views of the surrounding parks or southern, eastern, and western exposures. As a result of this layout, less than 5% of the smaller apartments are north-facing. The goal was also to shield the core of the block from noise and pollution from the Route de Launaguet. The extended terraces of the apartments are equipped with planter guardrails that act as a protective green filter.
The architecture prioritizes outdoor spaces by offering continuous loggias along all facades, allowing senior residents as well as social housing occupants to benefit from the green spaces provided by this urban development for the residents of this new neighborhood. In order to preserve the environment, certain existing trees will be retained as required by the program. The continuous planters on the senior residence, beyond their bioclimatic cooling benefits, will also create opportunities for gardening activities for seniors—whether vegetable gardens or flower beds. This architectural feature will enliven the facades throughout the seasons, adding color and character, with plantings ranging from geraniums to tomato plants, depending on the seasons and residents' preferences.
The materials used are simple. Structural concrete, which can be exposed, and white plaster as a backdrop for the loggias will be predominant. For the senior residence, we will use powder-coated steel planter guardrails, and for the social housing, micro-perforated metal guardrails. This setup will play with natural light, casting reflections that enhance the facades. The white tones and the reflective qualities of powder-coated steel highlight the gardening activities and their diversity. The loggia spaces thus become an extension of the apartments, serving as an "in-between" space that bridges the indoors and the surrounding parks.
Technical features:
Adress: 126 route de Launaguet, 31200 Toulouse
Client: Saint-Agne Immobilier
Architect: TAA Toulouse | Associated Head of project: Marinell Van Wyk | Junior Head of project: Jean-Baptiste Blondel | Head of construction: Yann Meyzonnat
Surface: 7880m2
Cost: 8M€
Delivery date: April 2024
