Inaugurated in 1971, la Maison de l’Enfance (Childhood House) du Petit Nanterre was the first establishment of this type in Ile de France and represented a real example of a building welcoming children and assuring an indispensable role in the life of the district.
45 years after, it appears it was necessary to proceed to a complete refurbishment. The City Council missionned the Atelier Filippini to restructure and adapt this place to the new needs and regulations, as well as pushing the thermical performances to the BBC level using ecological materials.
At the same time, an expansion had to be created to become the new neighbourhood hall.
The structure as well as its skin are completely made of wood. The envelope was treated with high performance insulation, on both the roof and the outer walls. Claddings were totally redone and realised in composite materials.
The will was to keep the existing volumes as well as some original details so the transformation could insert itself in a historical continuity.
The inner organisation was completely revised to adapt it to the new demands of the establishment after the evolution of welcoming ways and functioning of the structure.
The big play room was transformed to give back the large original volumes, reduced through years. It opens visually towards East, welcoming the sun rising light in the morning, during winter and mid-season. During summer, an outer solar-protection system with orientable blades provides protection from the warmth.
The new neighbourhood hall was treated like a big space with an inverted slop roof that opens towards the North and South facades ; which large windows are protected by extending awnings especially on the South facade.
This hall, that can also be used as an extension of the Maison de l’Enfance, can be divided into two independant volumes thanks to a mobile dividing wall. During evenings, after the opening hours of the establishment, the hall can be used for several activities by people of the neighbourhood, and public or private associations.
Completely opened towards the outside at its extremities, the hall extends itself towards a wood terrace as well as a large lawn allowing the expansion of activities outside.