Landscape in Light
On the edge of Rennes city center, the capital of Brittany, an impressive new mountain landscape has sprung up. Where the Ille and Villaine rivers converge, the riverbank has recently been transformed by Ilot de l'Octroi, a residential complex designed according to the radical ideas of the architectural firm MVRDV. Three polygonal residential buildings rise like rock formations from the natural landscape. A color gradient from gray to white, with textures ranging from matte to glossy, envelops the project and gives it the appearance of a mountain peak when viewed from the ground. Even upon close inspection, the materiality of the architecture remains hidden for a long time: the ceramic shell from Agrob Buchtal changes its appearance with every change in the weather, reflecting its surroundings and the light. The perfect façade for the Octroi, which appears as a striking landscape in the light from the perspective of Rennes.
The Ilot de l'Octroi marks both the end of an urban axis that originates in the center of Rennes and the beginning of the city center. On the last inner-city natural space, three buildings, developed according to passive house standards, give 136 apartments a new address. "As part of the urban expansion of Rennes, we have designed an urban area that offers more public access to nature, private green spaces, and fantastic views. Densification only works if it is accompanied by additional qualities, and that is our goal for these residents," explains Nathalie de Vries, partner at MVRDV.
Perception and reality
Nature is invited into Ilot de l'Octroi on various levels. It is reflected in the idea of inscribing a coherent, defined building volume into the urban environment instead of smaller units, as in the versatile landscaping of the stepped and terraced signal buildings. Vertical openings reinforce the resulting height and make the ensemble stand out even from a distance. Only the thousands upon thousands of vertically mounted panels of the KeraTwin® ceramic system from Agrob Buchtal complete the building concept. From a distance, the cubature develops into the image of an imposing mountain range, interspersed with alpine meadows and glacier fields. The exterior facades curve and the interior facades are cut in such a way that they offer as many terraces as possible, opening up to the Vilaine River in the south, the countryside in the west, and the city in the east. No problem for ceramic facade specialist Agrob Buchtal. The KeraTwin® system is up to any construction task and has proven itself in both horizontal and vertical panel installation. With their combination of color gradients, three different surfaces, and rhythmic format, the ceramic tiles ultimately make possible what MVRDV is pursuing as an overall concept: the identity of the architecture should blend into the surrounding landscape.
The secret to successful placement
Respecting the context means structuring it as a public space and delimiting it with buildings, according to MVRDV's credo. Octroi is inviting, with the quality of life of a village where residents can experience the existing natural space in various ways in their living environment. A special feature is the public square that MVRDV has created by setting the building back from the riverbank. The heart of the neighborhood is connected to the long riverbank by steps and invites social interaction with its view of the adjacent floating garden, the Jardin de Confluence. In dialogue with the existing buildings, the theater café Le Bacchus and the Pavillons de l'Octroi, a place of cultural life is created here that connects the location with its history. Even though the Pavillons de l'Octroi no longer collect the goods tax of the same name, as a founding element of Rennes, they once again mark the entrance to their city, which has developed into a metropolis.
Water, air, and light reinterpreted
As a facade material, ceramic unfolds its qualities in every building of the Ilot de l'Octroi, having been designed and planned to meet the requirements of excellent sustainability seals. The robustness, durability, and cost-effectiveness of ceramic facades are further enhanced by a surface finish. Hytect from Agrob Buchtal acts as a catalyst, triggering a reaction with oxygen and humidity through light. Microorganisms, algae, fungi, and moss are decomposed, and air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides are reduced. The ceramic surface improves the ambient air in the building. Its hydrophilic properties enable it to wash away dirt and clean itself with rain. This makes ceramic material a forward-looking partner for densification projects and, for Octroi, a factor that not only enhances the appearance but also generates healthy "mountain air" in a concrete and measurable way.
Sustainable through quality of life
The buildings contain a consistent mix of social housing and condominiums, large and small apartments with two and three orientations. The multifunctional shell offers various types of outdoor spaces for the apartments: winter gardens, loggias, balconies, and large terraces also contribute functionally to shading, privacy, noise protection, and wind protection, optimizing the comfort of the outdoor and indoor spaces. One of the advantages of highly transparent building envelopes is that their degree of openness gradually adjusts depending on the sun's rays and the direction they are facing. An indispensable partner: ceramic, an ecological building material that supports with its cooling effect.
No contextuality without a sense of place
The conscious use of green resources and the ecological potential of the location are intended to serve as a model for the entire metropolitan region. Finding an innovative residential solution in this privileged location with the existing buildings requires local knowledge. MVRDV is therefore working closely with Rennes-based architects Büros ALL and property developer Giboire, a partnership that Nathalie de Vries says has enabled them to plan in close connection with the context and meet the needs of this rapidly developing city. Ilot de l'Octroi is impossible to miss in Rennes. At nightfall, the facades are illuminated, forming the new nighttime silhouette of the Confluence.
