portfolio hélène kircher

CURRICULUM VITAE

16, boulevard Victor75 015 Paris FRANCE

Education :

2012-2013 Post Master - HMONP at National School of Architecture of Malaquais PARIS

2011-2012 MA 2 of architecture at National School of Architecture of Versailles VERSAILLES ¬ final project : control the ecosystem of the laguna by moving the touristic port of Venice ¬ final thesis: How to promote collective approaches for future architecture ? ( «Comment valoriser les approches communautaires pour l’architecture de demain ?» thesis written in French )

2010-2011 MA 1 of architecture at the Istituto Universitario d’Architettura di Venezia VENICE IUAV 2006-2010 BA of architecture at LOCI Faculty of Architecture, Architecture Engineery BRUSSELS and Urbanism 2001-2006 L’Ermitage international high school Baccalauréat MAISONS-LAFFITTE International bac. American section and Italian option

1999-2001 Castle Park School, Dalkey DUBLIN

Skills:

SOFTWARE INTERESTS LANGUAGES

Autocad Revit Architecture Hand-sketching French : first language Archicad Digital Project Model building English : fluent (IELTS: 7.5/9) Draftsight Office Suite Sustainability Italian : fluentPhotoshop Camtasia Photography Spanish : understandingIndesign Artlantis TeamworkSketchup CATIA DesignLive Buildings i-work Sports

Hélène KIRCHER

Born on the 19th of september 1988, in Paris E-mail: [email protected] Tel: +33 (0)6 22 29 80 16

Professional experience :

Oct. 2012 Architect at Collectif 07 PARIS- Oct. 2013 ¬ finishing the 20 000 m2 hospital of Capesterre-Belle-Eau, in Guadeloupe ¬ competition for two airports, in Burma ¬ creation of new bathrooms in Orly Airport, Paris ¬ restructuring Starbucks coffee shop’s layout, Saint-Germain-en-Laye ¬ extension of a house in Les Lilas, France

July 2011 Intern at Dassault Systèmes, CATIA Live-Buildings and Digital Project PARIS - Oct. 2011 realization of marketing videos at Gehry Technologies June 2011 Scenography at Peggy Guggenheim Museum for BMW Guggenheim Lab event VENICE and Palazzo Polignac with European Event Organisation, Venice art Biennale

2010 - 2011 Writing articles for architecture review MINIMO VERSAILLES Sept. 2010 12th Architecture Biennale with swedish architect Tor Lindstrand VENICE and team At Work With Sept. 2009 Weekly following a renovation site and creation of a library and school BRUSSELS - June 2010 by Cipolat Architecture

Feb. 2010 Etterbeek mayor’s project: renovation of three belgian houses into BRUSSELS a multigenerational dwelling

Jan. 2010 Internship on the building site of Louis Vuitton’s Art’s Foundation PARIS by Frank Gehry

Sept. 2009 Internship with Brisac-Gonzalez architects LONDON

July 2009 Construction internship with Compagnons Bâtisseurs GREECE

Sept. 2008 Construction internship on Middle Age castle in Guédelon BURGUNDY

All pictures and drawings in this book by Hélène Kircher.

Venice Biennale, 2010 Madagascar, 2007

HOUSING Multi-generation dwelling in Schaerbeek and Etterbeek, Belgium...............4

Città d’acqua in Porto Marghera, Italy.............................................................6

OFFICES Office tower, Porte de la Chapelle, Paris, France.........................................10

RENOVATION Theatre in Brussels, Belgium...........................................................................16

Museographic scenograpgy in Aquileia, Italy...............................................18

URBANISM L’Acqua quay, a new touristic port for Venice, Italy.....................................22

Development of a new city in Porto Marghera, Italy...................................26

LANDSCAPE Park in Brussels, Belgium.................................................................................32

A new park-island near Chioggia..................................................................34

TRAVELS & INTERNSHIPS Volunteer work : Madagascar........................................................................38

Travels: New York, Bern...................................................................................39 Construction sites: Guédelon; Frank Gehry, Paris; Cipolat Architecture, Bxl Internships: Dassault Systèmes and Gehry Partners, Paris...........................43

Experiences: Architecture Biennale, Art Biennale, Venice............................46

ARCHITECT AT COLLECTIF 07 Hospital complex at Capesterre Belle-Eau, Guadeloupe...........................50

Orly Airport’s extention’s bathroom, Paris.....................................................52 Starbucks Coffee shop, Saint Germain en Laye...........................................54 House extension, Les Lilas, Paris.....................................................................56

RECOMMENDATION Matteo Emmer, director of Collectif 07, Paris..............................................58 Jean-François Roger-France, teacher in St Luc - LOCI, Brussels...............59

1

Burano, Venice

The following projects have been thought as new ways of living:

The multi-generational projects in Nivelles and Etterbeek tend to mix three generations inside a home. The idea is to fight against the isola-tion of the elderly and create a new family core as well as permitting personal independance. The social housing project enables numerous possibilities of occupancy as they propose different size apartments. The «città d’acqua» in Porto Marghera, close to Venice, considers water as part of the dwelling. Indeed, the water is reflected in the staircases and each apartment can have a boat parking.

LET’S FIND NEW WAYS OF LIVING IN OUR HOMES !

Housing density block in Schaerbeek, Belgium

Città d’acqua in Portomarghera

3 HOUSING

housing density block in schaerbeek, belgium

The initial project development stages involved team work.

The program for the housing area was the result of a round-

table discussion where we decided to focuse on achieving the

right blend of activities in each neighbourhood of the region.

One of the difficulties was deciding what attitude to adopt in

respect to the train. Our site, the «îlot Van Oost», in consi-

deration to the local scale, is very big. I therefore decided to

divide it with a pedestrian way across it that makes the walk-

ing circulation easier, as the access to trams and bus facilities

as well as major services in the Cage aux Ours is fasten. The

new flow of people walking by the new street brings life to

the centre of the ilôt and a public place naturally welcomes

public infrastructure at the centre: school and sport devices

are located along the train lines. After-school activities can be

organised in front.

My approach to the dwellings considered orientation and the

possibility of increasing density. I payed particular attention to

private outside space for the dwellings and provided a well

orientated terrace to each apartment.

creating a pedestrian way and quality public space across ilôt Van Oost to let it breathe

propoposed programme

4

project realised in Saint Luc, Brussels, 2010

città d’acqua in porto marghera, italyproject realised at IUAVenice, 2010

This project was part of a global urbanistic work designed in Porto Marghera, where the whole industrial

territory was imagined free to start a new city. In the east-northern part of it, I planned a residential area. The

main objective was to offer each building a direct link to the water. I therefore created venitian like canals,

that crossed the area and permitted everyone a private boat access underneath their homes. Moreover, the

generous staircases were designed so the light could reflect right down the eight floors in order to naturally

lighten the circulation until the sea level, in a welcoming zone.

The apartments are of mixed sizes but all own a private terrace to enjoy the nice venitian laguna view.

6

This project was part of a global urbanistic work designed in Porto Marghera, where the whole industrial

territory was imagined free to start a new city. In the east-northern part of it, I planned a residential area. The

main objective was to offer each building a direct link to the water. I therefore created venitian like canals,

that crossed the area and permitted everyone a private boat access underneath their homes. Moreover, the

generous staircases were designed so the light could reflect right down the eight floors in order to naturally

lighten the circulation until the sea level, in a welcoming zone.

The apartments are of mixed sizes but all own a private terrace to enjoy the nice venitian laguna view.

Offices is the place where people spend the most amout of their time.

It is important to re-think both its interior design and its affiliation to the

city. In terms of accessibility, in terms of firm image as well as in terms

of flexibility, offices can be imagined to be placed in mixed programs

buildings. This diversity of functions can make a building never sleep.

For example if some levels welcome offices, others apartments and

more welcome schools, sporting devices and shops, we can imagine

that the rentability of the building is improved. More over, it enables

energy savings and can create a vertical inner city.

HIT THE DECK !

Office tower at Porte de la Chapelle, Paris, France

9 OFFICES

office tower at porte de la chapelle, france

30 000 m2 of offices

15 000 m2 of parking

The project’s ambition is twofold and can be read

at two different scales: first of all, at an urbanistic

level, the tower is a symbolic presence in an area

which misses one. Second of all, at a much more

local scale, it is inserted in the site as to welcome

the pedestrians and propose them a new access to

the «petite ceinture» which is an old train line that

traveled around the city and that is now let wilde.

At the northern door of Paris, we can well imagine

that a strong identity is important for the people

arriving in the city. Located at the crossing point

between a very busy street and international train

lines, the offices are easily accessible from all over

Europ. The access to the green and wilde petite

ceinture and the recognition of the ground is im-

portant to welcome the structure of the project and

enable its stability in such a chaotic site.

project realised with Richie Marudai, in EnsaVersailles, 2011

10

office tower at porte de la chapelle, france

Palais de justice, Brussels

In a world where so many buildings are empty, and so much material

waist is created for the creation of new ones, I believe it is very im-

portant to learn to re-use existing places. Indeed, history has left us a

nice heritage and it is a good challenge to try to renovate it to make it

livable today and for the future.

In the project of the theatre in Brussels, the goal was to rehabilitate an

industrial building that could re-open to the public.

The project in Aquileia was about creating a walkway through old

romanian ruins.

LET’S RE-USE BUILDINGS !

Theatre in Brussels, Belgium

Museography in Aquileia, Italy

15 RENOVATION

theatre in brussels, belgium

The project is situated in a popular area of Brussels:

Schaerbeek. The building is an old brasserie where they are now

organising a small theatre and a workshop to build the bac-

kgrounds and create the costumes of the plays presented.

I decided to give more importance to the theatre: have a bigger

and more comfortable room (with specific accoustic and thermic

studies), an entry hall that can welcome one hundred people in

the new room and lead the public to a bar where people can

restore themselves before or after the show.

The goal was also to reinforce the comfort of the actors so I crea-

ted a background scene and some individual logias.

The entry’s roof was replaced with glass, as to have natural light

during the day and become a lightning symbol during the night.

The existing façade was not touched, though the entrance was

enhanced by this lighting effect.

first intentions of project thought with S. Guillaume and L. Bertolaso, in Saint Luc, Brussels, 2009

16

first intentions of project thought with S. Guillaume and L. Bertolaso, in Saint Luc, Brussels, 2009

museography in aquileia, italyproject realised with Martin Léonard and Pierre Séguineau, in IUAVenice, 2011

Aquileia is an ancient roman city in Italy, at the head

of the Adriatic at the edge of the lagoon, about ten

kilometers from the sea, on the river Natiso. Today the

city is small (about 3 500 inhabitants) but is used to

be large and prominent in Antiquity, and is one of the

main archeological sites of Northern Italy. However, the

ancient buildings of Aquileia served as stone quarries

for centuries, and no edifices of the Roman period re-

main above ground. Excavations have revealed one

street and the north-west angle of the town walls. In

fact, the site of Aquileia is believed to be the largest

Roman city yet to be excavated and is inscribed on the

Unesco world heritage list. The project there was about

revealing the ruins by creating a raised pathway over

the ancient ruins and let the view on the ancient cera-

mics.

In addition, explanations about was can be seen are

placed along the promenade. The light structure carries

a roof to protect both the pedestrians and the ruins.

Place Janson, Brussels

« Cities are the greatest creations of humanity. » Daniel Libeskind

The richness of cities is the possibility to find, in a condensed area, all the activities that create life for its inhabitants. The actual reflexions on density and the combination of different functions are the key to the generation of a consolidated city in an ecolo-gical way. I am particularly interested in these matters and tried in my end of studies’ project, to offer a new touristic port to the city of Venice in order to protect the laguna. In Porto Marghera, however, the exercice was to start from new, considering that all the existing industries that are not working any more were torned down and a whole new town needed to be designed.

MIX OF ACTIVITIES FOR BETTER LIVING

L’acqua quay, a new touristic port for Venice, Italy

Development of a new city in Portomarghera, Italy

21 URBANISM

l’acqua-quay, a new touristic port for Venice

The project answers Unesco’s will to move Venice’s touristic port. Indeed,

the damage due to cruise ships’ passage within the fragile ecosystem of

Venice’s laguna are worisome. Moreover, the economic justification of

their presence is not enough: measures must be taken to save the artistic

and architectural cultural heritage and treasure of the city. However, we

cannot imagine to exclude completely tourists from coming by boat as

they represent the most important number of daily tourists. In this sense,

I imagined to locate this new port beteween the Lido and the mainland.

Following the Mose project which is now being built at the three «doors»

of the laguna to prevent the high waters from flooding Venice. This new

device takes the form of a long quay, and welcomes on the sea side

the very large cruise ships and ferries. On the inside, the laguna comes

in and the vaporetti, which are the much smaller boats, venitian public

transport, bring the passengers to Venice or other islands of the laguna.

The ferries can also let cars reach the main land.

22

final project realised in EnsaVersailles, 2012

l’acqua-quay, a new touristic port for Venice

24

At the end of the quay, on the laguna side, a research centre proposes to welcome the environmental sear-

chers. They have laboritories and can do their experiences directly in site. Some wooden floating passways

invite the public and the workers to visit the precious ecosystem in an ecological way, to the rythms of the water

tides. This building rises naturally to a beautiful view of Venice and the laguna. It is divided in two parts. One

private part for the searchers and one public part which exposes the results of the research and focuses on

Venice and the ecosystem of its laguna.

LE CENTRE DE RECHERCHE & CENTRE DE REPRÉSENTATION

DE VENISE

Le Venezoscopia est composé d’une part d’un centre de recherche scientifique pour les chercheurs venus étu-dier la lagune vénitienne. Doté d’une bibliothèque, d’un échantillothèque, de laboratoires d’observation et d’expé-rimentation, de bureaux et d’un auditorium, les chercheurs de l’Unesco et du monde entier peuvent venir y travailler. D’autre part, une partie accueil des visiteurs curieux de décou-vrir Venise d’une nouvelle façon sont invités dans un musée.

STRUCTURE

TRAVERSEE PIETONNE ET ACCES BATEAU

CIRCULATION PIETONNE

PROGRAMMATION

25

L’ACQUA QUAI

Le projet propose de répondre à la demande actuelle de l’Unesco de bouger le port touristique de Venise. Les dégats causés par le passage des paquebots dans la lagune sont préoccupants et l’enjeu économique du tourisme n’est plus une raison suffisant e pour continuer à laisser un écosystème si fragile et un patrimoi-ne artistique et architectural se détériorer ainsi. Par contre, nul ne peut envisager d’exclure tout à fait les touristes de bateaux de croisière de visiter Venise. Le tourisme est en effet devenu la source principale d’activité de la ville. Ce travail est donc une proposition de déplacer le port à la porte de la lagune, Porte du Lido. De cette nouvelle infrastructure composée principalement d’un grand quai, les touristes sont invités à prendre le vaporetto pour rejoindre Venise et les îles de la lagune.

L’ACQUA QUAI

Le projet propose de répondre à la demande actuelle de l’Unesco de bouger le port touristique de Venise. Les dégats causés par le passage des paquebots dans la lagune sont préoccupants et l’enjeu économique du tourisme n’est plus une raison suffisant e pour continuer à laisser un écosystème si fragile et un patrimoi-ne artistique et architectural se détériorer ainsi. Par contre, nul ne peut envisager d’exclure tout à fait les touristes de bateaux de croisière de visiter Venise. Le tourisme est en effet devenu la source principale d’activité de la ville. Ce travail est donc une proposition de déplacer le port à la porte de la lagune, Porte du Lido. De cette nouvelle infrastructure composée principalement d’un grand quai, les touristes sont invités à prendre le vaporetto pour rejoindre Venise et les îles de la lagune.

new city in porto marghera, italyproject realised at the IUAVenice, 2010

We were given a whole new territory close to Venice whe-

re a new city needs to be designed in the area created

around fifty years ago for the industries.

The sites characteristics are similar to those of Venice in

relation to the water. I decided to enhance this strenght

and played with the water to have it come into the city.

having building-bridges and links.

The masterplan is linked to the existing cities of Marghera

and Padova by a major street and a tramway line that

goes from Mestre train station to the end of the island. A

secondary line desserves the residential areas.

The central business district, which is an island of its own,

is only a pedestrian area, like Venice. The cars are left

aside in integrated carparks and hopefully, I do hope that

in the future there will be less and less automobiles. The

tramway is a good alternative to the cars and permits a

close access to the centre.

Giving green public park zones was also an attempt to

make this artificial island created by man a more natural

aspect and a nice environment to live in.

26

new city in porto marghera, italyproject realised at the IUAVenice, 2010

28

« An architect should live as little in cities as a painter. Send him to our hills, and let him study there what nature understands by a buttress, and what by a dome.» John Ruskin

From Brussels to the Southern Venitian laguna near Chioggia,

I had the opportunity to deal with landscape works. Creating a

park organised with a new train station in the first case, this pro-

ject was about having a greenier healthier city centre. In the very

dense fisherman city of Chioggia, the inhabitants do not have

natural public areas to relax and enjoy the view on the laguna:

the creation of a new green island composed of vegetable gar-

dens that can be used by the people living around it gives them

the opportunity to meet in a new beautiful environment and pro-

duce their own food.

WE WANT GREEN !

Park between railways in Brussels, Belgium

A new island near Chioggia, Italy

31 LANDSCAPE

park between railways in brussels, belgiumproject realised with Lucile Bertolaso and Laura Schmitt in Saint Luc, Brussels, 2009

This landscape work located in « La cage aux ours » in Brussels was about positioning a train station and some

vegetable gardens in a park. Considering the atmosphere of the local site, special for its mix of cultures, the

goal was to create a gathering place in a nicer environment. The curves and organic shapes came naturally

to connect the different places of the site.

a new island near chioggia, italyproject realised with Anna Favartto and Roberto Fulciniti, at IUAVenice, in 2011

In the southern venitian laguna, the fishermen city of

Chioggia looks like Venice in respect to its high density

and some pedestrians sones. Like Venice itself, it has

very poor green public space. The idea here was to

create a new island that would welcome both a public

park and private vegetable gardens for the inhabitants

og Chioggia so they can come during the week-ends

relax in their gardens. This new island is mostly made

from the material extracted from the canal that needs

to be deepened in order to let the major marchan-

dise ships navigate in the new port created on the

mainland further South. The cost of Chioggia is being

redesigned, and visual connections with the new is-

land emhasised. Moreover, public transportation like

vaportto lines are proposed to ensure the connection

between the islands. Private boats are also welcome

on the East cost. On the countrary, the Western coast

is let wild.

34

TRAVELS & EXPERIENCE

In Alain de Botton The architecture of happiness, the author

deals with the question of how we look at our environment

and stresses the importance of maintaining a curiosity about

what surrounds us.

Extremely curious, every day I enjoy questioning myself about

what makes a place enjoyable and lovable. Through my dif-

ferent internships I have had technical answers, through my

different travels I have had emotional answers.

TEST, TRY, BUILD, GO !

37

¬ Madagascar, volunteer work¬ New York, travel¬ Guédelon, middle age castle construction¬ Bern, school travel study¬ Following construction sites: Brussels, Paris¬ Venice architecture Biennale¬ Venice art Biennale¬ Internships at Dassault Systèmes and Gehry Technologies

TRAVELS & EXPERIENCE

madagascar: Volunteer work

The project was about spending ont month with children from

Ambositra, in Madagascar. The goal was to practice their

French, which is the official language of the country but which

they speak very poorly. In this sense, with four friends we prepa-

red lessons and activities and brought all the material needed to

the school. The experience was at least as enriching for them as

it was for us. I organized the trip and sought for sponsors (10 500 €

was collected ).

July 2007

38

new york: traVel

Ten days to visit the City ! The diversity of China Town, Little Italy, Brooklyn

Bridge, Chelsea, Broadway, Times Square, The Guggenheim, The Metro-

politan Museum, the Moma, Soho, Central Park, The Chrysler Building,

Harlem, The United Nations, Staten Island... The amazing architecture

and great dynamic of the city made it clearly a world-city. New York ap-

peared open and cosmopolitan.

When I visited the city I knew one day I would live there.

August 2008

39

guédelon: middle age castle construction

I took part in the construction of a new Middle Age

Castle which is built using the XIIIth century methods!

I helped the masons to build the gable-end wall, sto-

ne-cutters etc. This original adventure is a long one,

it started fifteen years ago and they still have around

ten more to go. My first experience on site was very

teachfull.

“ Architecture starts when you care-fully put two bricks together. There it begins.” Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

September 2008

40

Pictures taken by an other student.

guédelon: middle age castle construction

bern: school traVel study

Museum Paul Klee, by Renzo Piano; Notre-Dame du

Haut, by Le Corbusier; Station by Libeskind... The vi-

sits with project’s teachers invite us to see our enviro-

nement in a new way ! On this school trip I won the

De Coster sketch drawing price.

May 2009

41

following a construction siteproject realised by Cipolat Architecture in Brussels, followed from October 2009 to February 2010

The project was realised by Cipolat Architecture, who

accepted to invite me every week to follow the evolu-

tion of their renovation of the «maison de la culture»

of Molenbeek, in Brussels. They also introduced a

new library, artist’s studios and gallery. I was infor-

med that the building was not listed, nevertheless, the

urban district insisted on keeping the original brick

walls. They were covered by coating. The first time I

arrived on the site, the workmen were preparing the

sie for new foundations. Indeed, by stripping the coa-

ting, they realised that the original walls were in very

bad state. Besides, after ground tests, stakes seemed

to be needed to assure the stability of both new and

old buildings.

I visited the building site once a week during three

months. As the construction was at it start, I followed

the evolution of these three subjects: foundations (sta-

kes), waterproofing of walls against the ground, and

concrete works (reinforcement, beams...).

42

following a construction siteproject by Frank Gehry, Fondation pour l’art contemporain de Louis Vuittonfollowed in January 2010

I spent time on this very impressive project which

started in 2006 in the Bois de Boulgne, Paris.

The 46 metres high project involves numerous

companies (up to 500 people on site at once).

I had the chance to follow the work of Studio

architecture (the French team of achitects who

collaborate with Gehry Partners here), Vinci

(which is the French building company) and all

of the participants in the project: electricians,

plumbers, ingeneers, and experts in glass and

projected concrete. It is amazing to see the abi-

lity to realize such a complex project ! The art

galeries will be from 6 to 17 metres high and

measure up to 675 m2 The sill was filled with 11

000 m3 of concrete + 1 600 tons of steel and

measures 2,60 metres of height. Four cranes

have been on site since the past four years. And

we are now hoping to see the finished buikding

by the end of the year...

!"

#$%&%&'()*

43

Venice architecture biennalewith Tor Lindstrand from At Work WithSeptember 2010

Arriving in Venice in September 2010, I was immediatly attracted by the Bien-

nale of architecture directed by Sejima. Luckily enough, I met the architect’s

team from the Nordic pavilion and was invited to join them for a week, before

school started for me. Sweedish architect Tor Lindstrand and his Australian

choregraph wife welcomed me to their team and we had an on-going film

project, mixing architectural model work, imaginary landscapes and associa-

tive fim production. A project where the set moved and the camera was fixed.

It was the first time I did such an abstract project where I could experiment

shapes and colours not for their function but only for themselves and the way

they assemble with others.

The team work was enriching : the cross-border exchange between Australia,

Sweden and France, in Italy was ideed very interesting. The interaction was

also tri-disciplinary between architecture, scenography and movie-making.

Furthermore, the communication with the curious public was the main goal

of the workshop and lead to strong exchanges. In this sense, we operated in

the pavilion, at the same time as people came by visiting the exhibition. The

interaction, linked to the 2010 theme of «People Meet in Architecture», was

evidently very efficient.

44

Nordic Pavilion, Venice Biennale

dassault systèmes & gehry technologyfrom July 2011 to September 2011

As building construction requires more global collaboration, pressure to de-

liver on time and on budget have never been greater. Moreover, regulatory

standards become more stringent. The Dassault Systèmes Building Design &

Lifecycle Management solutions help construction companies and their sup-

pliers accelerate the delivery of innovative buildings with sustainable design.

Their solutions integrate business process management with cutting edge to-

ols for design, engineering, analysis, and construction planning so that all

stakeholders in the construction process can effectively collaborate.

I decided to do an internship in this French company for different reasons:

first of all, to learn their sofisticated software: Draftsight for 2D design, Live

Buildings for 3D conception imaginaion, and Catia and Digital Project for

detailed complex design. The second reason was to understand their colla-

boration tools to have an illustration of my end of study thesis based on how

to promote collaboration approaches thanks to new technology for future

architecture. In this sense, I was really intersested in giving my advices to

the research and development team working on the elaboration of the new

software for architects Live Buildings.

Dassault Systèmes and Gehry Technologies have been working together and I

was then invited to create spoted-videos for their solutions of Digital Project.

Conceptual buildings tests with Live Building

45

scenography for Venice art biennalewith European Event OrganisationJune 2011

Created in 2011 to last six years, the BMW Guggenheim Lab is a mobile laboritary

that will travel worldwide to nine different cities. Led by international, interdisciplinary

teams of emerging talents in the areas of urbanism, architecture, art, science, design,

technology, education, and sustainibility, the BMW Guggenheim Lab will address

issues of contemporary urban life through programs and public discourse. Its goal is

the exploration of new ideas, experimentation, and ultimately the creation of forward-

thinking solutions for urban life.

The 54th Venice art biennale was a perfect way of getting the public to learn about

the project. In this sense a major luncheon event on the roof terrace of the Peggy

Guggenheim Museum invited all major contemporary artists and architects like Jeff

Koons or Zaha Hadid. My experience about this event was the whole organisation

of it. From the scenographic presentation of the terrace to the welcoming of the

guests.

Peggy Guggenheim Museum on Grand Canal, Venice

Palazzo Polignac on Grand Canal, Venice

The Gagosian Gallery at the Palazzo Polignac welcomed a party on the first night of the Venice art biennale.

The scenography for such an event greeting stars mostly from the art world needed to be subtle and sublime.

The palazzo façade was subtly up-lit and also given candlelight vi external nightlights and lanterns. As one

enters the androne from the pontoon (most guests arrived in water taxi from Grand Canal), there is water on

both sides, thus elegant brass stands. The floor had an elegant old Persian carpet. There are Murano glass

standard lamps scattered around the perimeter of the androne. The existing wooden benches were decorated

with fabric and cushions. Low tables were placed in front of them. A bar and a double ended log buffet ran

for ten meters along the right hand wall. The court yard perimeter was beautifully decorated with numerous

night lights and lanterns and elegantly up-lit with electrical lighting to enhance all four sides to the architecture

and flowering plants. The main large room on the piano nobile had elegant dark old looking damask cloths

cascading from the tables. Candle sticks, glass candelabra, night lights, chalices and ornaments were used to

enhance the buffet and side tables.

ARCHITECT AT COLLECTIF 07

ARCHITECT AT COLLECTIF 07

* so says Alvar Aalto.

How excited am I to start my life as an architect ! My first ex-

perience is in a parisian studio, Collectif 07. Four young and

dynamic architects became partners in 2007 and, thank to their

hard work, their company has been expanding since then. Com-

posed of different European nationalities, I was welcome in a

great team. There, I worked on different projects, all of different

scales. Firstly I participated to a very interesting yet very complex

hospital project in Guadeloupe. Then, I designed the extension

of a house in the parisian region, where the direct contact with

the clients was very dear to me. Simultaneously, I took part in

the design competition of two airports in Burma (images cannot

yet be reveiled). The associates of Collectif 07 have worked for

Aéroport de Paris and have had projects there since the creation

of their studio. The insight of this large structure was a great op-

portunity for me to understand how to organize work at a larger

scale when I worked on Orly’s bathroom restructuration.

This year as an architect, I developed both team work and per-

sonal engagement, met and presented projects to clients, I desi-

gned and had to find technical solutions.

« Me ? ... I build !» *

49

¬ Construction of the new Hospital complex of Capesterre, Guadeloupe¬ Restructuring Orly’s bathroom, Aéroport de Paris¬ House extension in Les Lilas, Paris¬ Restructuring Starbucks coffee shop in Saint-Germain-en-Laye

hospital complex of capesterre belle-eauCapesterre Belle-Eau, Guadeloupe, France2012-2013

The mission given to Collectif 07, grouped together

with SNC Lavalin engineers, is to finish the construction

of the hospital complex designed by other architects in

2008 and stoped in 2010.

The site measures 75 000 m2 and the hospital is com-

posed of thirteen buildings and contains 20 000 m2.

217 beds are available. The client is the Centre Hospi-

talier de Capesterre Belle-Eau (CHCBE).

From Collectif 07’s studio, one associate and one

architect have moved to Guadeloupe, thus ensuring

that the construction site progresses correctly day by

day. In Paris, two architects and I have been helping

them for over a year, to succeed in this task. We sub-

mitted modifications made to the design of the project

to the contractor to adapt the project to real-life site

conditions, correct errors and remedy omissions to the

construction documents. I mainly gave visas to the en-

terpises’ plans and resolved technical details.

We are expecting the delivery early 2014 now.

50

© Collectif 07

Vue Extérieure Vue intérieure

Guadeloupe

Capesterre-

Belle-Eau

Plan Masse projet

55groundfloor plan

orly airport’s new bathroomAéroport de Paris, France2013

As the four associates of the firm all worked for

Aéroport de Paris (ADP) before creating Collec-

tif 07, they have had the ability to continue wor-

king for them every year. This project was about

the new bathroom in East Orly’s extention. Both

the meetings with architects from ADP, who have

ingenuite big size company methodology, and

the detailed scale needed to provide construc-

tion plans were extremely teachful to me. In fact

there were three different blocs of bathroom to

create on two different floors.

It is also interesting to see how much attention

is put into an aiport’s bathroom as it contributes

to the general satisfaction of the travelers.

site plan

section - washstand detail

© ADP + Collectif 07

53

sizing plan

groundfloor plan

house extensionLes Lilas, France2013

To me, an important part of the architect’s

job is his ability to understand his client,

translate his needs into drawn proposi-

tions and then realize his wishes. Try to

manoeuvre with him between his dreams

and the reality. I believe this is a wonderful

challenge. In a smaller scale project like

this house extension in Northern Paris, I

was extremely happy to communicate di-

rectly with the clients, a family of three who

needed more room for their home. While

reorganising the first floor, where the com-

mon spaces like the kitchen and sitting

room are located, I proposed to extend

the lower floor leading to the garden with

generous bedrooms. Above the extension,

a new terrace welcomes family and friends

while extending the garden on the gained

indoor room.

groundfloor plan

gardenfloor plan

54

© Collectif 07

starbucks coffeehouse Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France2013

55

Following the construction of a shop is

always extremely impressive. To see in six

weeks the demolition and re-elaboration

of a totally new space has tought me that

when they know what to do, the enterprises

can manage great work in no time.

In this project, the confrontation with the

healthy, classical, bourgeois mayor of Saint

Germain en Laye was also quite an expe-

rience as this is the first Starbucks Coffee

established in the city. Moreover, the coffee

shop will be located near the 12th century

castle of the city so special care was drawn

on the subtle integration of this American

worldwide spread coffeehouse chain in its

environment.

Particular attention was payed on regle-

mentation for disabled people. It was quite

challenging in this narrow spaces.

groundfloor plan

basement floor plan

© Collectif 07

RECOMMENDATION

RECOMMENDATION 57

¬ Matteo Emmer, director at Collectif 07, Paris¬ Jean-François Roger-France, teacher at St Luc-LOCI, Brussels

For more information, contact Hélène Kircher:

[email protected]

+33 6 22 29 80 16

16 boulevard Victor75015 Paris

FRANCE

portfolio hélène kircher

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