2021
Nine
Functional

L’Ellipse

Chemin du Vernay 14, 1196 Gland, Suisse

Project info

Features

Project owner

Rentimmo Industry SA
Rue du Perron 1
1196 Gland

Owner's representative

AMO Management SA
Chemin du Vieux-Vésenaz 3A
1222 Vésenaz

Mandate

Total Company

Architects

Hervé De Giovannini SA
Rue de Malatrex 38
1201 Genève

Civil engineers

Bernard et Forestier Ingénieurs civils Sàrl
Chemin du Canal 3
1305 Penthalaz

Technical offices

HEATING - VENTILATION
Chauffage Concept Sàrl
Route de Saint-Julien 288bis
1258 Perly

Technical offices

SANITARY
Voutat SA
Chemin du Vernay 16
1196 Gland

Technical offices

ELECTRICITY
Betelec SA
Route de la Galaise 12
1228 Plan-les-Ouates

Geotechnics

Karakas et Français SA
Chemin des Poteaux 10
1213 Petit-Lancy

Facade engineers

BIFF SA
Rue de Monthoux 64
1201 Genève

Fire safety engineers

Bois Initial SA
Rue Centrale 21
1110 Morges

Acoustic engineers

AER - Acousticiens Experts
Avenue de Sévelin 28
1004 Lausanne

Surveyors

Bovard & Fritsché SA
Route de Saint-Cergue 23
1260 Nyon

Lot size: 3760 m2
Gross floor area: 6200 m2
Ground floor area: 1240 m2
SIA volume: 19500 m3
Number of levels: Ground floor + 2
Number of underground levels: 1
Outdoor parking spaces: 32
Indoor parking spaces: 58

Project details

A multi-professional building

In Gland, the Chemin du Vernay runs along the SBB tracks to the south and, just a few hundred meters from the station, brings together a variety of industrial and commercial buildings.

Situation

At number 14, a multi-professional building was erected on an available plot of land. The project, named Ellipse, aimed to enhance the value of the plot by creating a multi-storey double building around a courtyard, the two parts being connected by a basement. The project’s distinctive feature is its elliptical shape. This makes it stand out from the surrounding buildings and guarantees quality spaces and clear access for pedestrians and motorized vehicles.

Program

The client wanted a building that was both significant in its form and a striking element of the surrounding architectural fabric.

In this area, the Ellipse is part of an architectural breakthrough that eclipses its neighbors with its volume and clean lines. The building offers easy access and creates a reception and distribution area from the courtyard. The building’s design is characterized by a backbone designed for distribution, services and technology. The patios create light wells in the center of the building, providing interesting perspectives for comfort in the workplace. The building, made up of two half-ellipses separated by a courtyard, is designed to offer maximum flexibility, both in terms of surface area and volume, as the floors can be distributed without constraint.

A full basement, with parking and technical rooms, groups the two parts. The first floor, facing the inner courtyard, houses the cafeteria and reception. The two floors of offices can be distributed as required, with each office benefiting from natural lighting.

The site environment necessitated the installation of sheet piling to ensure the safety of the excavation work. Outside, a road leads around the two half-ellipses, providing access to the 58-space underground parking lot and the 32 outdoor parking spaces.

Project

L’Ellipse is a singular building, yet one that can be divided at the tenant’s discretion. It is characterized by its high-quality, comfortable spaces, its technical equipment and its interior fittings that benefit from natural light. The tree-lined courtyard adds to the building’s welcoming atmosphere. Integration was an important factor in the project process. The shape, the dark brown-black color of the facade contrasted by belts of eloxed aluminum fins, the creation of the tree-lined courtyard and the interior patios were all designed to meet today’s energy and ecological constraints.

Realization

The basement, walls, pillars and slabs are made of reinforced concrete. The basement slab is reinforced with pre-stressed windchests, as the shape of the superstructure does not coincide with the needs of the infrastructure (parking lot traffic). The two upper levels feature elliptical concrete pillars and slabs, while the exterior walls are clad with curtain facades, lacquered white on the inside and brown-black on the outside. The facade fins are curved in the shape of an ellipse and continue over several facade elements. The reinforced concrete walls facing the inner courtyard are clad with metal cassette facades. Inside, the floors are carpeted and the walls are stained. In certain dedicated areas, partitions are made of lightweight solid or glazed partitions. Additional custom-made fixtures and fittings are made of wood.

Technical

The Ellipse demonstrates its ecological priority by meeting Miner- gie® and Green Power standards. To meet the environmental requirements of these labels, heating is provided by six underfloor heat pumps and three monoblocs. Heat is recovered from the single-flow ventilation system. On the roof, 420 m2 of solar panels provide

energy, while the building is equipped with a protection system against electro-smog, the electromagnetic waves that can affect well-being and comfort.

Challenges and strengths

The main challenges of this project were the difficulties posed by the SBB tracks located some ten meters away. Alpenda’s teams were able to find solutions adapted to the elliptical shape of the building when installing the sunshades. Designed to reduce the discomfort caused by radiation, they also contribute to environmental quality by controlling the penetration of sunlight into the building. Finally, the Ellipse, with its sober, elegant architectural approach and the quality of its equipment, is a landmark in the urban expansion of the town of Gland.