We studied all the details and worked closely with AGC on these glass solutions to ensure that all types of glazing used were perfectly harmonised to create a pleasing overall look.
Gilles Marty, Director of INCA, a French architectural firm that has specialised in the development of extraordinary projects for more than 20 years, gives us an overview of the creation and implementation of the new administrative centre for world-famous cognac producer Rémy Martin:
"Our brief when designing the new administrative centre for Rémy Martin was to create a new 5,000 m² building featuring open-plan offices and collective spaces where light plays a key role."
"This was an ambitious project, but on a human scale", says Gilles Marty. "The aim was to create a contemporary building for all of Rémy Martin's administrative staff. Right from the start, we didn't want to design a traditional office building but rather a genuine living environment in which the concepts of space, comfort, diversity of ambience, atmosphere and well-being at work are critical to the project's success."
In designing the project, INCA drew inspiration from the types and shapes of ageing cellars. Two large straight buildings housing the offices and communal areas are sited in the heart of a landscaped park. The buildings are connected by canopies and skybridges. The building was designed as a house, a house you can walk around and where every effort has been made to prompt visitors and staff to move from one department to another, from the restaurant to the office spaces, to the gym and more. All of these pathways take you through widely diverse atmospheres and ambiences.
Light was a key part of this project. Clear glazing creates variations in light and aesthetics while providing expansive views of the park and inner gardens. The opaque parts are clad in enamelled glass to create reflective effects while providing continuity with the clear glazing across all the facades. The reflective glazing on the walkways and bow windows lets in light while delivering optimal solar protection. Here, INCA opted for ipasol 70/37 solar control and thermal insulation glass. This product, used in most of the project, combines low emissivity with high light transmission and delivers a neutral appearance. In addition, ipasol 25/17, a low-emissivity reflective glass delivering superb protection against solar heat, was chosen for the bow windows.
"We studied all the details and worked closely with AGC on these glass solutions to ensure that all types of glazing used were perfectly harmonised to create a pleasing overall look," concludes Gilles Marty.