Santé publique France | Atelier du Pont

Just outside Paris lies the Bois de Vincennes; a sprawling public park covered in trees and home to an arboretum and botanical garden. The new office of Santé Publique France, the French national healthcare agency, was built on the edge of the park by architect studio Atelier du Pont. The park provides the main source of inspiration, with the headquarters building constructed entirely out of wood, from the structure down to the interior.

Affectionately nicknamed “Woody”, the building also makes extensive use of BAUX Acoustic Wood Wool to ensure acoustic harmony and as a sustainable visual feature. The design team, led by founding partner Anne-Cécile Comar and Philippe Croisier, drew inspiration from a variety of sources; statistical motifs, graphic patterns, and a large monumental fresco in the main auditorium. Neutral shades of wood were used for the layout and structure, allowing the building to blend seamlessly with its arboreal surroundings. Red brick floors reference the soil and earth, while technical elements were painted plain black. Three colours were chosen from the BAUX Wood Wool range: natural, burgundy, and graphite.