Estar,

 

 

The point of departure of our project is the comprehension of the Ferme de la Culture as an ensemble, valuing not only the importance of the buildings themselves, but also the relationship and spaces between them. We first developed a series of drawings of the existing condition, exploring the evolution over time of the three buildings and exterior spaces, to then construct of a 1:50 physical model which served as a tool for discovery and development of our project strategy.

 

As part of our landscape strategy, our idea is to extend the Colchique Park and connect it to the Town Center of Troinex by a new gate aligned with the Chemin de la Grand-Cour. The intention is to link it to Malbine Park, forming a network of green public spaces and soft mobility paths which connect the Communal Hall, the Moillebin Playground and Troinex School. Our project sees La Ferme de Culture as an integral part of this network of public spaces and a new gateway to Parc Colchique, offering three distinct outdoor spaces.

The entrance courtyard in the centre, with a new fountain, is a space connecting all the different programs and uses. The square to the north, designed for cultural activities and open-air shows. The orchard to the south takes advantage of the orientation to create a terrace and grow edible plants. A new transverse axis is also proposed, connecting the three exterior spaces, with a new opening resulting from a careful demolition of the perimeter wall towards the north. Regarding the materiality of the exterior developments, all surfaces are designed as permeable with various grains: stabilized for the paths and accesses, gravel for the square and recovered cakes for the courtyard.

 

 

The different programs are distributed in the three buildings according to the spatial characteristics of each structure: public reception and large cultural spaces in the main farm, library in the medium farm which can operate with independent access and schedules and the small annex is renovated to include workshop spaces, also with independent access and direct relationship with the square. The spatial configuration of the main farm and the small farm follows a common principle of organization by bays determined by the rows of posts of the existing structure, aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal facades.

Particular care and attention has been given so that each space in the program finds its place in the existing structures, preserving their spatial typology, aiming for a low energy consumption both in its construction and in its future use. The project proposes the reuse of structural and construction elements, combined with selected demolitions and minimal additions, using the atmospheric, architectural, and thermal qualities of the different buildings.

 

 

 

 

Credits:

Preselection competition: 3rd prize
Project: Ferme de la Culture
Location: Troinex, Switzerland
Client: Ville de Troinex
Year: 2023
Architect:  Estar, Aurora Armental Ruiz & Stefano Ciurlo Walker
Civil Engineer: Schnetzer Puskas
Building physics: ESTIA
Collaborators: Jon Onandia Calvo
Model photography: Andrés Fraga