lab g

The Phileas workshop and Granon used to share the same building courtyard in Paris.

The day that the lab decided to extend and renovate its premises, the call naturally went to Phileas. The client wanted to optimize its operation around a contemporary image that would not be too extravagant. The aesthetics of the courtyard could not be changed so we suggested a design that maintained the integrity of the facades.

The entire design is therefore deployed as a "U". This integration means that the courtyard becomes a natural extension of outdoor spaces. This arrangement improves the relationship with the integrated external spaces in Granon’s operation. The relationships between the different wings of the design cut across the yard.

The contemporary redefinition of the aesthetics of the design was achieved using metal and glass envelopes to unify the different functional areas. Rounded and flexible forms unfold along the external walls and support movement around the periphery.

Whenever possible, tinted transparencies unveil the activity of the function that they enclose. As a complement to the machinery, the furniture and arrangements make reference to the contemporary image of high technology spaces. In this spirit, light is considered an integral part of the composition. Professional sources are displayed, while current sources are integrated into the arrangement to vanishing point. The volumes radiate their own light which contributes to their technological interpretation. The colour ambience had to be neutral so as not to disturb the colour calibration of the images produced. Sophistication was applied to the choice of grey and white by work in gloss and matt, transparent and opaque.

The main representative space of the place is the "grocery" so named by the client for its qualities conducive to communication. This space, which opens out onto the courtyard, is structured by a white metal envelope on which counter unfolds.

Coated metal and glass are used throughout the design. The quality of the project is based more on mastery of detail than the richness of the materials.