The departure of the Hospital freed a vast urban area, which created several urban redevelopment projects, and in turn this competition. The main strategy of this project comes from the hope of solidifying the link between urbanity and architecture, a link that already exists within the current typological structure. The building parcel is in fact framed by two distinct types: one side a courtyard garden of the old hospital, the other a dense and central historical lot. Looking to preserve a harmonious articulation, this urban project hybridizes these two systems.

The Local Urbanism Plan allows an ambitious density within this site; however, the neighbourhood suffers from an absence of public space, notably pedestrian friendly. Similarly, the project aims to highlight the ‘Hôtel-Dieu’, to restore its original composition and inscribe it in the evolution of the quarter. This haven, which is organized by the surrounding retail and services, will be connected to the centre of Rennes and to the prairies of Saint Martin by the routing of a pedestrian pathway.

The main floor is reserved for commercial space, activities and services. The housing program was distributed equally between social housing and free market housing. A dozen residences were designed while following the residence type « Bihome » developed by Icade: consisting of two-bedroom or three-bedroom apartments that include a living space led off by two entrances.

Desiring to have the façade function in a symbolic way, we entrusted young French artist, Benoît-Marie Moriceau, with the role of creating the drawings for the facade of the building. These surfaces are perceived as blank canvases in which will be engraved a large image of the city. This almost spectral representation of the city, an echo of moments passed within the snapshot of a lens, will constitute a sort of standard which will symbolically record the evolution of the future of the area.

Client: Icade Promotion / Cost: NC / Surface: 15600 m² / Schedule: 2013 / Team: Anthracite 2.0 (Architecte associé), Benoît-Marie Moriceau (Artist)