Monolith in Lyon Building, Erick van Egeraat, Architect, Image, French Architecture, News

Monolith in Lyon, France : Architecture

Lyon Confluence Development, France by Designed by Erick van Egeraat

14 Oct 2010

Lyon Confluence – Monolith Building

Erick van Egeraat designs the Monolith in Lyon

Architects: Designed by Erick van Egeraat

A unique superblock is officially opened today in the French City of Lyon. Designed by Erick van Egeraat created the superblock, called the ‘Monolith’ in collaboration with the French architects Combarel-Marrec, Manuelle Gautrand, Pierre Gautier and the Dutch Architect Winy Maas.

image © Designed by Erick van Egeraat

This superblock is part of the urban renewal project Lyon Confluence. The building with its exuberant architecture is intended to add the new values to this derelict territory which was previously a thriving industrial district. Now the area is transformed into an innovative and beautiful part of Lyon’s city center. Erick van Egeraat and his French and Dutch colleagues all contributed to this ambitious development.

The Lyon Confluence project consists of three lots: A, B and C. The project of (designed by Erick van Egeraat) is located in lot C which is also know as Le Monolithe. Lot C comprises of office, retail and residential units on a size of 32.000m2, is located in Lyon’s key – redevelopment area Lyon Confluence. It will accommodate 1.500 new residents, 15.000m2 of new office-space and 1.800 m2 of retail. This ‘superblock‘ is part of the larger inner-city redevelopment in the gastronomic center of France.

Divided into 5 sections, each section was designed by a different architect. Erick van Egeraat designed the North-eastern entrance-part of the superblock. Offices are located along the east side and parallel to the train track. Residential units are located on the north side and in the ‘bridge’ spanning across and creating the entrance gate to the interior courtyard.

“It is an unusual building which took quite some effort to get realized. Initially each architect selected a specific material for the façade”, Erick van Egeraat says.” We eventually decided to use all materials, which created this unusual but very attractive image for the Monolith”.

The result for this design is a facade predominantly designed in wood and glass. The various wooden and glass panels have been assembled in a rich and elegant irregular pattern. The introduction of the pronounced vertical wooden fins created additional depth in the façade. The fins introduce an element of verticality in the predominantly horizontal volume of the entire block. Erick van Egeraat’s unique interpretation adds another layer of individuality and scale to this remarkable superblock.

Monolith in Lyon image / information from Designed by Erick van Egeraat

Location: Rue Casimir-Perier, Lyon, France

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image Courtesy of Studio Odile DECQ architectes urbanistes
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