The residential complex "La Poudrière" | Delphine Ding

The residential complex is located close to the city centre of Fribourg in a residential area in- cluded in the new restructuring plan of the city of Fribourg aimed at densifying the surrounding areas.

The building is elongated and folded in the centre and unfolds on the ground in the shape of an arrow, aligning itself on one side with the road and on the other side delimiting the east- ern side of the parcel boundary. Its location and particular architectural configuration were designed to provide maximum illumination for the flats distributed on either side of two wings (south and south-west) while opening onto a large communal garden. At the intersection of the two wings, an opening partially disguised by an asymmetrical arrangement of the walls, provides access to the garden as well as to the staircase leading to the upper floors.

The structure stands on a concrete base that accommodates a five-room flat on the ground floor and a covered cantilevered carport. The basement hosts the cellars and the technical room as well as a studio at the south end of the building, created by exploiting the sloping configuration of the land. The building is on three levels, built entirely of wood, and houses a total of 6 flats (5.5 and 7.5 rooms) opening on three sides facing south and the Fribourg Pre-Alps.

Both the material and the structural system of the building were selected according to strict parameters in terms of resources, ecological concerns and aesthetic qualities. In order to achieve an energy-efficient (CECB AA) and ecologically sustainable envelope, the choice for the construction of the three upper floors was made for an all-wood construction system.

The free plan organizes the flats through a succession of volumes that open on both sides, creating a fluid and structured layout. The private spaces clearly delimit the surface, while interstitial areas, allowing for outward openings, diffuse the light deep within the volume.
The windows in the corners, stretched up to the ceiling, accentuate this effect by offering a grazing light throughout the day, while the large sliding doors give these hybrid spaces multiple functions.
The rooms are more or less reduced in size in order to leave as much space as possible for living spaces. A south-facing loggia opens at the back of the dining room and provides each flat with an outdoor space offering a generous view of the Fribourg mountains and overlooking the garden.