Description

The inland port of Gennevilliers with its multitude of uses is the most important transport hub of the autonomous port of Paris. It is situated directly by the Seine River and covers a total area of 384 hectares. For the most part it is a high­frequency container port. The storage hall A12 is on the one hand an unpretentious integral part of this context; on the other hand, due to its clarity and lightness, it forms a landmark.

The building mainly serves as a transfer place for containers and freight. It was also required to be flexible, e.g., serve as a workshop or workplace. Most importantly, it is to provide large storage capacities. In order to achieve even daylight conditions which are appropriate for any kind of use, the building skin is made from transparent polycarbonate panels. While intense light levels characterize the upper part of the building, the lower part is kept enclosed and plain. The anthracite-colored 5.80 m high concrete base is designed to merge with the surrounding asphalt, as the upper part of the façade is designed to merge with the sky. Due to this horizontal division the height of the building is less apparent. In plan, the storage hall is divided in two parts by a longitudinal compartment wall containing all major mechanical services. Hence, the remaining part of the hall is free for any kind of use. The interior is symmetrically and simply organised and provides good orientation. Eight loading bays alongside either longitudinal façade ensure a fast loading of the trucks and, therefore, a smooth transfer of the goods. The office wing including all secondary spaces is separated from the storage space behind the lower enclosed façade section. It fits in with the dark-grey concrete base as it is made of the same material.

The roof structure was designed to provide sufficient daylight. The roofing is made of staggered, corrugated galvanised sheet metal strips. It is interrupted by lozenge-shaped polycarbonate skylights.

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Originally published in: Jürgen Adam, Katharina Hausmann, Frank Jüttner, Industrial Buildings: A Design Manual, Birkhäuser, 2004.