This project is part of a mixed residential and commercial area in the Gare / Crêt - Taconnet district, a central strategic development zone in the city of Neuchâtel. The L-shaped building extends along the rue des Sablons and joins the rue de la Côte (20 meters higher), with multi-story buildings. The complex has 5 entrances served by 3 streets, and at its heart is a park planted with magnificent pine trees.
The overall appearance of this building is emblematic of the early 70s, both in terms of its exterior and interior design. The building, which is fairly dense, has generally been well-preserved, and the two most recent renovation campaigns in 2013 – 2014, and the upgrading work in 2015, have left it looking well-maintained.
The complex comprises 5 adjoining modules (buildings), built in 1973 by Pizzera SA, a Neuchâtel architectural firm.
The ground floor is occupied by commercial premises, the two basement levels by car parks, and the remaining 7 levels on the ground floor serve as rental accommodation.
Redefining the building envelope made it possible to achieve the quality objectives required to obtain the Minergie Rénovation label. This involved the installation of photovoltaic panels on the roofs, the installation of hybrid heating using pellets and gas, and monoblocs for heat pump recovery.
The work also involved refurbishing the kitchens and sanitary facilities in the 116 apartments, to provide residents with a new, more comfortable home that meets current standards:
- refurbishing all the technical installations and changing the sanitary fittings
- replacing the external windows and shop windows
- renovating roofs and facades
- bringing landing doors, entrance doors and railings, balconies, and stairwells up to standard.
The renovation work was carried out on an occupied site, with so-called "bypass" apartments being made available to tenants for the duration of the work in their properties.
Year
2023
Developed by
CCHE Lausanne SA
Client
SwissLife
Typology
Transformation
Program
Interior renovation of bathrooms and kitchens, renovation of windows and shop windows, renovation of roofs and facades, bringing landing doors, entrance doors and railings, balconies, and stairwells up to standard.
116 apartments and shops on the ground floor
2 underground parking levels
Procedure
Call for tenders
Floor area (GFA)
10,146 m2
Volume (SIA)
43,948 m3
Realization
ComplexBau
In addition to improving energy performance, the aesthetics and materiality of the buildings have been reviewed.
The body of the building is composed of 3 major colors: beige, gray and bronze. The expression of the building is determined by the smooth, fluted fiber cement panels that run in bands along the façades. The windows and frames are made of bronze-coloured metal, which stand out against the façade.
The gray fluted surfaces change according to the viewing angle, and the mineral aspect of the material varies throughout the day. Light and shadows play with the recessed and raised lines, creating an optical effect and depth in the mass. This contrasts perfectly with the smooth, luminous appearance of the beige panels.
The mineral appearance of the material, with its visible fibers and versatile character, gives a rhythmic aspect to the buildings as a whole.
Facades: East, North, West, South
Sections: East-West, North-South
