L’échappée / Atelier WOA

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‘‘L’échappée’ (or the ‘escapade’) stands for a place of meetings and exchanges, and a call to culture. A contemporary forum where both younger and older generations should feel at home. “L’échappée” of Herblay-sur-Seine embodies the simple paradox of a landmark building that seeks to blend into its environment.It maintains a strong relationship with its topography. From the ground, the forecourt transforms into terraced steps, gradually becoming a structure. The construction changes as it rises, transitioning from a mineral base with massive stone (extracted from the quarry of Saint-Maximin located 30 km away) to a fine metal mesh, culminating in a landscaped roof. This gentle curtain cascading from the roof offers nuances depending on the glazed or opaque sections it covers.The dynamic effect of this uplift is a call—an invitation to enter, to be entertained, informed, and share. The expansive interior volume consists of a completely open plan, providing maximum flexibility and adaptability for future uses.The roof is built as a fifth facade. Completely green and free of technical elements, it integrates the building into the landscape, offering a qualitative and unobstructed view to the surrounding structures. In the manner of Haussmannian buildings, wood and stone come together and interlock to form a durable and high-quality construction principle.