Dominant lines
Awarded a Pyramide d'Argent in the Commercial Property category, Kbis, supported by ICADE, acquired by the Société de la Tour Eiffel and designed by rue royale, is located at the heart of the Carré de Soie urban project. It accompanies the transformation of a vast 500-hectare area straddling the municipalities of Villeurbanne and Vaulx-en-Velin. Once a major textile industrial site, it is now being transformed while leveraging certain components of its heritage, such as the emblematic TASE factory.
Kbis fits in with sobriety and elegance in this part of the city in the making, characterised by its proximity to a parking silo and the arrival of the Rhônexpress metro-tram multimodal hub. Its urban layout is based on the dominant lines of the district, its architectural style along contrary lines. Rhythms, patterns and vibrations act in resonance with the industrial architecture.
The codes for office buildings are undergoing radical change and Kbis is keenly in step with this paradigm shift to meet new demands. The proposed spaces are cleverly designed with an eye to flexibility and modularity and can be adapted to the needs of coworking, flex office, open spaces or closed offices with the relaxation and conviviality areas that are an essential part of office life today.
Building on the dominant frameworks
The project is designed and organised along the two directions formed by the Avenue des Canuts and the TASE factory. It plays on these two axes in a very simple way. Two volumes are intertwined: to the north, a part with six floors in the continuity and volumetry of the parking silo; to the east and south, two parallel bodies of buildings, between two and three floors, come to join the urban scales of housing and the square.
As Kbis is in the background in relation to the multimodal arrival, the entrance is staged at the focal point of the pedestrian walkway that accentuates it out nicely. It stretches over a length of about fifteen metres on the northern facade, the technical facade. It invisibly and scrupulously integrates all the services of an office building: parking access, trash rooms, technical rooms, transformer, etc.
Facades drawn on opposite lines
The facades are designed on two opposite lines that give a perception of "wiggle". The first, developed on the external faces of the project, is vertical and white, formed by large metal cassettes. Its verticality is accentuated by an interplay between the floors: the window design integrates the spandrel of the upper window. The transoms are made of white frosted glass, flush with the joinery.
The second frame, in the hollows of the building, is based on a horizontal organisation with windows in bands, with the entire assembly in metallic grey.
A staged lobby
Special attention has been given to all the common areas. The lobby, conceived with architect Peggy-Laure Allard, is chic and sober, inspired by hotel atmospheres. Marked by a few strong colours such as white, red and black, it is divided into three zones that gradually guide the visitor from the outside in.
The access control system is executed by the delicate intervention of artist Mathias Ouvrard, with the "Carrés de Velours" (Velvet Scarves) that evoke memories of the place and resonate with the project. The reception desk, a simple assembly of white volumes, is highlighted by its back wall in brushed aluminium laminate.
The waiting area, in front of the three elevators, is distinguished by its brick red volume (floor, wall, ceiling) that stands out from the rest of the space. Subtle touches of golden brass are added by the luminaires.
Flexible and modular offices
The offices, conceived from the outset as "on spec" intended for rental, are organised according to standard norms. Their 2.70 m height is completed by 50 cm of false ceilings for the passage of technical ducts and their surfaces are adjusted to 1.35 m, a grid that allows for all configurations. Each level forms a plateau that can be divided into two or three lots. Generously bathed in natural light, they are protected from the effects of overheating by adjustable sunshades. On the ground floor, Californian blinds with vertical slats create a distance from the pedestrian walkway.
The colours chosen correspond to those of the facades. White and grey are distinctly used according to the interior or exterior parts of the building with paints that respect the desired luminosity levels. The false ceilings integrate light fittings and inspection panels in 30 cm or 60 cm alignments.
Floor levels, terraces and shared parking
The floor landings are comfortably sized and naturally lit, considered as meeting places for users. Opposite the lifts, a large white wall is covered with brushed aluminium slats. The number of slats varies from floor to floor as a marker.
The washrooms, systematically located outside the offices, are organized on the principle of the recess and do not open directly onto the corridor. All signage was designed by the architects of the rue royale agency.
For the roofs, a distinction must be made between the technical roof and the terraces. The first, at the top of the building, is set back and made of dark metal so as not to reflect the light. The terraces, on the other hand, can be either private and directly accessible from the offices or collective and open onto the landings. Various species of trees have been planted on the terraces that are covered with slabs laid in Japanese steps here and there.
The car park, with 82 parking spaces on two levels, is intended to be shared with other users outside the offices. A metering system and a dedicated application are complemented by a secure airlock and separate lifts between the car parks and offices. A 125 m2 bicycle room, accessible on the ground floor from the pedestrian walkway, complete with showers, encourages soft mobility for employees.
Kbis demonstrates a perfectly mastered project: an adjusted urban layout, balanced volume for housing over 7,000 m2, the care and expertise of each detail that offers the comfort and harmony necessary for new contemporary tertiary spaces.
