News: Pentagon-à-la-française Nicolas Michelin unveiling the French Pentagon…

… which will look like a hexagon. I've already presented the project in a a previous post. Now that I have more details, I can go back over this project. The New Ministry of Defence Headquarters, also known as Pentagon-à-la-française, have been unveiled this week. This complex will contain new buildings and existing buildings that will be renovated on a 16-hectare site. Three agencies will be responsible for the design: Nicolas Michelin who will work on the central part of the site, also known as "western parcel"; Jean-Michel Wilmotte who will build the four rental office building situated in the western corner, say the most westerly parcel; and Pierre Bolze/Atelier 2/3/4 with a group of architects will will be responsible for the redevelopment of the East parcel, the elimination of parking and dissimilar constructions.

Ministry of the Defence, Balard, France © Nicolas Michelin, Jean-Michel Wilmotte, Pierre Bolze.
Originally appeared on le figaro
> The complex is announced to be sustainable and functional.

Spatial organization

Furtiveness, mysterious, royal are the keywords that will lead this project, Nicolas Michelin says.

The choice for the hexagonal shape appears to be the result of the spatial organization. Yet it will not be surprised that it plays an iconic role in the design as well as in the choice of architects, real estates, and client insofar as the shape of France represents a hexagon.

Ministry of Defence, Paris, France © Nicolas Michelin, Jean-Michel Wilmotte, Pierre Bolze. Photography courtesy: Bertrand Guay/AFP

On pilotis, the complex will allow for a large amount of surface area for gardens. "The interior spaces will be coherent", says Nicolas Michelin, "as the building are supported by pilotis, gardens will occupy 60% of the surface areas and will be interconnected creating six directions".
Apart from the gardens, the complex will house the Cite de l'air, the Ministry of Defence and 90,000-square-meter area housing offices dedicated to civil use.

Ministry of Defence, Paris, France © Nicolas Michelin, Jean-Michel Wilmotte, Pierre Bolze.
Originally appeared on le figaro

Façade
The monumental façade, located in the west parcel, will be clad with horizontal white glass panels to alternate transparency and opacity. Be it mat, ceramic,  bright, or pleated, this translucent skin will creates a luminous affect. The façade is announced to be capable of withstanding a number of constraints. The central building lifted on pilotis will be covered by mesh panels that will be cut around a hexagon.

© Nicolas Michelin.
Originally appeared on le figaro

The envelope designed by Jean-Michel Wilmotte will be in metal and glass.

© Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Originally appeared on le figaro 

Roof
The huge sloping roof will be in metal with a roof system integrating around 7.000 slate photovoltaic panels which will evoke Parisian slate roofs. It will also integrate an innovative aeraulic installation for the ventilation of the interior spaces.

Ministry of Defence, Model, © Nicolas Michelin, Jean-Michel Wilmotte, Pierre Bolze. Photography courtesy: Bertrand Guay/AFP

Sustainable building
The new Ministry of Defence is announced to be an energy-saving complex. Located in front of the most westerly building, a new green road will link the 15th arrondissement and Issy-les-Moulineaux. A aeraulic system will be installed on the roof allowing for natural ventilation within the building. It will be interesting to check out whether or not this system will be effective.

Interior spaces. Originally appeared on le figaro

Interior Spaces. Originally appeared on le figaro

The Ministry of Defence complex is due to completion by August 2014.

Video originally appeared on Grand Paris et petits détours.
Source: Grand Paris et petits détours, le figaro, Reuter (in French)