jacques ferrier architectures: les yeux verts

‘les yeux verts’ by jacques ferrier architectures all images jacques ferrier architectures/photo luc boegly

located in soissons, france close to the famous saint jean-de-la vigne abbey, is the new 600 space capacity ‘les yeux verts’ by jacques ferrier architectures. the multi-storey car park is fundamental to redeveloping the gouraud barracks into a modern business park.

its presence contributes to the transformation of the site and is one of its federating landmark elements. with its concrete structure, galvanised steel framework and timber cladding, the car park takes the form of a contemporary yet highly restrained urban infrastructure.

the architectural style of the building is based on a clearly affirmed structure overlaid by a pleated openwork timber envelope that lightly and delicately clads the entire car park. on each level, a slit opens up in the envelope to provide views from the inside over the urban landscape of the town. from the outside, these ‘green eyes’ open widely to reveal hanging gardens that delicately spread into the surrounding facade.

subtle visual variations have been created using a single retified spruce slat module. this is achieved by adjusting the rhythm and angling of the slats, stepping away from the facades, using solids and voids, and incorporating light and transparency into the construction. these elements create dynamic, vibrant façades that give the car park a strong image within the town’s urban fabric.

the signage takes the form of a series of ten photographic images (one per half-level) that, borrowing from the ‘memory’ game used by charles eames, allows users to mentally associate the area where their cars are parked with an atmosphere, a sensation and a visual reference point.

project info: architectural team : jacques ferrier architectures architect : jacques ferrier project manager : stéphane vigoureux team : emmanuel coudert (project leader), corentin lespagnol (image conception), david juhel, harold chaveneau client : communauté d’agglomération du soissonnais city : soissons, france programme: parking, 600 spaces competition: winning project in 2007 completion: march 2010 area: 12 250 m² cost : 6.6 m euros

consultants : landscape designer: agence ter signage: laboratoire irb ruedi baur structural engineers: hdm ingénierie utilities engineers: sogeti ingénierie photos credits: © jacques ferrier architectures/photo luc boegly