CHRISTOPHE GULIZZI, IFPVPS, TOULON, FRANCE
The
Var Public Training Institute for Health Care Professionals (IFPVPS) in Toulon
brings together eight training centres that used to be scattered across the department
into one single complex. The complex is part of urban transformation operations
on the Montety district of Toulon, combining respect for the historical
heritage with contemporary visionary thinking to provide a modern training
environment for future health care professionals: nearly 1,200 people on-site,
including nurses, nursing assistants, childcare assistants, psychomotor
therapists, occupational therapists, and paramedics.
Winner
of a competition launched in 2020, Christophe Gulizzi designed an iconic
building softened by bright, undulating facades, punctuated with white shutters
made of ultra-high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete (UHPC). The IFPVPS is
the epitome of a sensitive and constantly evolving architectural design, a
filter building that captures and modulates light throughout the day. Its thin
horizontal cladding reflects the rhythm of life inside the building, while the
fibre-reinforced concrete shutters provide privacy and enhance transparency. The
building shell keeps out prying eyes while its elaborate exterior design and
sunlit facade create constantly changing perspectives, making it a vibrant
element on the cityscape.
The
complex includes a central landscaped area, pedestrian-entry paths, and green
spaces. Taking advantage of the natural contours of the land, a terraced garden
wraps around its base connecting the surrounding gardens and creating a
tree-lined core, a haven of peace and fresh air. Its basic structural design
constructed around recesses and slopes reduces its visual impact, while an
overhang to the east marks the entrance and creates a protective porch.
On the
inside, a spacious ground-floor hall leads to the students' communal areas,
such as the dining and relaxation areas, which extend into the terraced garden.
Two multipurpose amphitheatres complete this level, which also caters for activities
outside regular opening hours. The educational spaces, grouped into different
programmes with workrooms adjacent to the faculty offices, are set across the upper
levels and lead through to terraces to draw in natural light and encourage interaction.
By
adopting an eco-responsible approach, the IFPVPS building naturally blends into
its Mediterranean surroundings. The terraced landscape enhances local
biodiversity, with species adapted to the climate that require little water and
benefit from an eco-efficient irrigation system.
The project's bioclimatic architecture provides optimum heating through the carefully designed layout and facades fitted with shutters to provide natural ventilation and limit direct sunlight. At the same time, a rainwater recovery and infiltration system preserves resources by reducing the impact on public networks and minimising the risk of flooding.
Client : Toulon Provence Méditerranée; Delegated Client Representative: Var Aménagement Développement; Lead Architect (design & studies): Christophe Gulizzi Architecte; Associate Architect (construction supervision): FLEX Architectes; Floor Area: 7 819 m², Completion: July 2024. Photo: ©Stéphane Aboudaram - We Are Content(s)
