a design by architecture firm coldefy has been selected as the winning entry of a competition to build a new mixed-use building in northern france. the project is to be constructed in lille’s ‘euralille’ district, an urban quarter masterplanned by OMA in 1989 that comprises the city’s main railway station. titled ‘echo’, coldefy’s competition-winning scheme will provide office space alongside a catering and leisure program that includes a climbing club.

coldefy echo office building
all images © coldefy | image above by jeudi wang

 

 

externally, the development — which comprises 1,400 square meters (15,069 square feet) of of planted areas — is defined by its use of greenery. to be built using timber construction methods, coldefy says that the project is the ‘first bio-based building in euralille’. the design comprises two structures of different sizes with adjacent outdoor public spaces. the floorplates of each building reduce in size as they ascend, culminating in green roofs that cascade downwards across the outdoor spaces of each building.

coldefy echo office building

 

 

in total, the two structures will contain 8,000 square meters of floor space (86,111 square feet), with nearly 40% devoted to hosting a predominantly catering and leisure program in the form of a large climbing room. meanwhile, the office program will host the flex office brand newton offices. the larger of the two buildings will be ten storeys above ground, while the smaller structure comprising five floors. other projects designed by coldefy include the world’s largest tropical greenhouse under a single dome and the national pulse memorial & museum.

coldefy echo office building
north elevation (click for larger version)

coldefy echo office building
east elevation (click for larger version)

coldefy wins contest to complete mixed-use building in lille with cascading green terraces
south elevation (click for larger version)

coldefy wins contest to complete mixed-use building in lille with cascading green terraces
west elevation (click for larger version)

 

 

project info:

 

name: echo
location: quartier euralille – lille, france
program: office complex, restaurant area (culinary corner, brasserie, etc.), climbing club, parking
owner: aventim – ENGIE solutions aire nouvelle
site area: 2,000 sqm / 21,528 sqf
floor area: 8,000 sqm / 86,111 sqf
status: won competition in 2021

 

lead architect: coldefy
MEP and civil engineering: projex
structural engineer: ingébois
façade engineer: VP & green
environmental engineer: tribu
landscaper: coloco
economist: LTA
acoustic engineer, vibration studies: aïda