Avène

Located in an exceptional environment, Les Bains d’Avène, the project starts from a double condition: to respond to the corporate identity of the thermal complex of Avène and to the landscape identity of the Haut Languedoc Natural Park.

Social integration
The nature of the thermal complex is basically social. The “curists” follow the thermal treatment defined by the French public health. Most of the Hotel’s users are doctors from all over the world and internal employees of the company, who during their stay check out the thermal treatment process.

The program responds to the different needs of users, on the one hand the public outdoor pool for the inhabitants of the town and the thermal complex, on the other the indoor pool and gym for hotel guests. This double condition, far from being a drawback, is enriching and allows (among others) to consider the complex as the start of the Park or Trail de l’Eau walks.

Landscape integration
The definition of the section allows the building to be semi-underground on the slope to limit its visual impact and improve its thermal insulation as well as covering the building with a fifth facade visible from the hotel rooms: the garden roof.

The materialization of the surrounding works with the relationships that visuals, reflections and vertical gradations establish with the forest and water.
A small variation in the order of varnishing and preparation of the slats of the facade panels allows configuring a chromatic variation in the vertical lines of the envelope to establish a dialogue with the natural environment.