Chaude Tuile Factory

This is a listed architectural heritage site belonging to the historic city of Orléans, consisting of three large reservoirs and office buildings in prestressed concrete designed by Freyssinet.

The Lyonnaise des Eaux has invited tenders for a design up-date. In response, AIM Hanemian Architects has proposed retaining the listed buildings in their entirety and creating a new dynamic impact for their roof-line by adding massive but simple rectangular structures.

These new concrete slabs of considerable size sited above the reservoirs make it possible to install solar panels on a base not resting on the reservoirs and thus avoi­ding the risk of craking and pollution. Night-lighting of time-related varying intensity brings out the lightness of the three floating panels and enhances at all hours of the day the impact of these historic buildings, which will become a major city-centre landmark.