Komorebi

Quality of use

The Komorebi’s design has been conceived to promote quality of use and user comfort at all times.
These qualities are expressed by:

• The multiplicity of terraces and outdoor spaces.
• Generously glazed floor plates offer views into the distance.
• Access to natural light verified by a FLJ study. Generous frame height allows light to penetrate deep into the plateau.
• The soft, warm presence of recurring wood, which remains bare on the underside of ceilings in offices and under terraces.
• High ceilings of 3.20 m in the office area. The HVAC principle we propose is to distribute all the technology in a plenum that is restricted to the heart of the plateau.

Urban intentions

Located in the ZAC de la Haute Maison in Champs-sur-Marne, the proposed plot is long and narrow. The RER railway line acts as a physical barrier between the ZAC and the Bois de Grâce.

To address this challenge, we proposed a layout of three double buildings positioned perpendicular to the boulevard, creating multiple visual openings toward the Bois de Grâce.

This configuration also meets the required floor area targets, offering the possibility to add 800 m² by adding an extra floor to one of the buildings.

Wooden structure

From the R+1 upwards, the structure is made of wood. It consists of a post-and-beam structure with a 5.40m grid (4 x 1.35m modules). This post-and-beam structure allows the creation of a completely free and flexible layout.

Bracing is provided by diagonal braces in the 5.40m grid makes it possible to develop a technically and economically efficient timber structure with controlled timber beam heights (32cm on the facade and 50cm in the heart of the plateau). It allows the use of CLT floors up to 20cm thick.

We know that the structure is one of the biggest contributors to a building’s carbon footprint. The fact that most of the structure is made of wood (posts, beams, facade walls and floors) means that we can be optimistic about the operation’s carbon footprint.

Work on all building materials, and in particular on the use of bio-sourced insulation, will help meet carbon targets. The structure of the first floor and parking lot is made of concrete.

Double skin

Visual and thermal comfort is partly ensured by the passive and dynamic protection of the double skin. The general principle is to take advantage of solar gain in winter (raised BSO) and protect against solar flux in summer (BSO lowered). The control of these BSOs is left up to the users, but can be forced by the BMS, notably to lower the BSOs and prevent the building from overheating in summer.

Natural ventilation

Each plot is organized in the same way: the office areas set against the facades form a C shape around an offaxis central core. This “C” has openings on 4 orientations: north, south, east and west. Our proposed plots are J 8m wide, but relatively short in length. The prevailing winds are from the south-west. All these features contribute to the efficiency of natural ventilation for summer and mid-season cooling.