AU*M Pierre Minassian Offices, Lyon, projet: AU*M architectes
Project: AU*M architectes; Main Contractors: Duron, Prodalu; Products: Modular (lighting), RBC (furniture), Jung (switch); photos: studio Erick Saillet
AU*M Pierre Minassian’s new offices in Lyon are a fine example of contemporary architecture embodying Pierre Minassian’s very distinctive approach to architecture. The building’s sculptural design set over three levels and its large openings emphasise the transition from a ‘mineral’ space on the north side to a garden in the south so as to focus on the project’s purpose of creating a striking landmark.
The ground floor welcomes visitors into an exhibition area displaying photographs, scale models, prototypes and details of the facade.
Envisaged as being a cultural congregation and crossing place, it is projected over three levels to create a link between the roadway and garden. This setting, featuring a large organic steel sculpture that appears to levitate, is the lynch pin of the main building, vertical circulation and firm’s business operations.
The first floor accommodates the creative/technical spaces and administration offices. Mainly opening up towards the outside, they draw on natural light and showcase the agency.
A spacious top-floor meeting room dominates the building. Concrete (installed based on patented processes to safeguard it against thermal bridges) characterises most of the construction and is the most distinctive aesthetic feature of the overall architectural design.
The material’s textures, substance and various shades of colour create a very sensual image.
Pierre Minassian has played around with the power and versatility of concrete to shape a building designed to accommodate the team’s everyday business operations.
To create a certain consistency between the interior and exterior, the frameless glass windows are carefully incorporated in the structure.
JUNG LS 990 finition Dark: Pure and unambiguous elegance
Meticulous attention to detail ensures everything conforms to the same basic style from the acoustic panels, custom-designed by the firm, to the elegant light switches from Jung’s LS 990 Dark range.
These switches have such finely designed frames that they fit in perfectly with the clean-cut lines and rough materials characterising the interiors. Pure and unambiguous elegance: the dark lacquered opaque aluminium gives these switches a unique kind of shininess.
LS 990 Dark is a perfect combination of a dark colour, pure lines and the elegance of a noble material, allowing an elegantly discreet contrast to be created with the soft colours of the furniture and the rough black concrete walls.
