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The facility was designed to be an "urban catalyst" for the new Atalante ViaSilva district in the suburb of Cesson-Sévigné, with Paris-based Ateliers O-S Architectes creating a flexible structure that can be easily adapted or retrofitted in future.
Above, four identical suites hold the corners of the plan with the exterior glazing looking outward and the interior spaces divided by banded walls in warm raw wood.
Attractive too, the mass of deeply lobed leaves provides dense ground cover, and these are topped with curious deep purple, green, pink and white towering, flower spikes during spring and summer.
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The four-storey building has a roughly rectangular layout, with large expanses of glass separated by metal cladding and thick columns at the base that support a floor plate covered over a ramped entryway.
"The Urban Empowerment Center was designed with a rational architectural expression that belies the complexity of its highly diverse mixed-use program and its collaboration between multiple private, public, and state organizations," said the studio.
Color can completely alter the mood of a kitchen; used cleverly, the darker shades of grey, green, blue, and even black give a side of sophistication and drama to the room, especially when paired with statement metallic Ironmongery and well-positioned lighting,' comments Melissa Klink, the head of design at Harvey Jones.
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"The interior reorganisation of the house works in layers, clearly defining a main volume for daytime living, which is bordered by a thin strip giving access to the various floors and services," said the studio.
A moon-like fibreglass light fixture was created as a custom piece to fill the large void above the sunken lounge, while bespoke timber handles used for the kitchen cabinets as well as the property's front door add a whimsical detail.
"The goal of this novel hybrid building system is to achieve expansive column-free space while minimising material usage, thus leveraging the synergy between wood and natural fibre composites," ITKE head Jan Knippers told Dezeen.
There is plenty of that signature style in this home: from murals in the children’s bedrooms and dramatic marble basins in the main en suite, to beautifully reupholstered art deco armchairs in the formal living room and red joinery in the pantry.