France’s T-Shaped Fire & Rescue Centre

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06 September 2023

A  7,800 sqm fire and rescue centre in France is the first in a series of future buildings looking to redefine the entrance to the city of Rennes in Brittany.

 

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Situated in the northwest of France, Rennes is the capital city of Brittany, known for its medieval centre and grand 17th and 18th-century buildings. Following the banks of the River Vilaine, the city’s departmental fire and rescue service now resides in a dramatic building that is intended to mark the entrance to the city, with architecture in line with the rest of the city.

 

Collaborative Spaces

 

The new building houses the SDIS, France’s civilian fire service and the CIS which carries out rescue missions. The new facility will integrate a fire station into the provincial fire and rescue services office already present at the site. 

Designed by LAN Architecture, The unusual T-shape of the building allows staff from the two departments to flow effectively around the buildings, reducing travel time.

The junction point between the wings of the base and the tower forms the central area that links the CIS and the SDIS with all the shared spaces, including meeting rooms, cafeteria services, and spaces for socialising.

 

Picture: a photograph showing the front of the building and the roads in front of it. Image Credit: LAN

 

Parking Requirements

 

The site required more than 11,700 m2 of parking space, compared to 3,900 m2 of building space. This has been placed at the rear of the building to allow for moving vehicles and prevent visual interruption to the building’s façade.

 

Consistent Lighting

 

Each room, including offices and accommodation, has a minimum of six windows, two below, two at chair height, and two at eye height. This simplifies any interior reconfiguration of the building layout.

Picture: a photograph of the interior showing the windows at various heights. Image Credit: LAN

 

Curtain walls create a play of openings in the facade, transforming the building into a huge night light, a symbol of the constant vigilance and dedication of firefighters.

Picture: a photograph showing the T-shaped nature of the building. Image Credit: LAN

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 06 September 2023

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