45 rue Louis Blanc received the ‘Habitat and Environment’ certification in 2007. This French environmental housing certificate is voluntary and goes further than just building efficiency. The criteria include educating occupants on eco-friendly behavior and waste reduction, as well as standard requirements for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
In an area undergoing redevelopment, the office building in Saint-Étienne houses various public services as well as several leisure facilities. Constructed using opaque and glass rectangular panels, the center features a set of connected buildings that are glazed on all three sides of their faces, while the fourth is yellow. The architects envisioned the structure to resemble a sort of ‘Aztec serpent’ in the design’s fluidity and appearance. The facade mimics silvery translucent scales, while the bright yellow serves as the serpent’s underbelly.
In 2005, MAD Architects were commissioned by the municipal government to design the Ordos Museum located in the center of the new city. The architects were committed to representing the redevelopment while becoming a reflection of both the traditional and transforming culture.
