The S.A.I.L.S. Project was born to respond to the contemporary need of sustainable and eco-responsible spaces. Through the creation of symbiotic infrastructures, such as the redesign of the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat Nautical Base, UOOU Studio wanted to be part of the synergic process that integrates one of the main French Riviera’s symbols - sailing - into the surrounding environment and the local culture.

On one hand, the proposal of an internal structure made of laminate wood allows the creation of a sustainable building with a low environmental impact that respects the unquestionable grace of the local landscape; on the other hand, the winding and waving line of the building, recalls the imagery of a boat’s keel, perfectly integrated into the French Riviera’s identity, a timeless symbol of the balance between innovation and tradition.

The photovoltaic transparent glass on a part of the roof improves the efficiency and eco-friendliness of our building, thanks to its capability to generate clean energy for different purposes.

The elegance of the building is even more refined by the presence of recycled sails coming from dismissed sailing boats which embody the perfect symbol of clean energy. An efficient and optimised way to use natural elements, sailing boats used the power of wind to run silently and at zero emotions on our seas for millennia.

We perceived the identity of the picturesque Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat as deeply related to the respect for the role that the Mediterranean Sea with its activities always played for the inhabitants, a natural element that became the driving force in the transformation of a small fishermen hamlet to one of the most exclusive locations of the French Riviera.

For this reason, the concept behind the use of recycled sails is not only linked to its ecological value but also presents a building that is profoundly integrated into the local culture and social environment.

We present a nautical base equipped with a facade made of recycled sails, obtained from various kinds of old watercraft - from the dinghies of the sailing school to the majestic tall ships - to point out the stories that the Sea carries within itself and to exalt the love for the unexplored. Each sail is the marker of a specific identity, fitted with a QR code available to
everyone, it recreates a sort of open-air museum that tells the adventures, the discoveries and the risks of the bold sailors.

The building’s integration doesn’t remain only on the social spectrum but it also works in a sense of urban adaptability: the reuse of sails allows us to create a wide structure to protect the building and its users from the strong summer heat of the Riviera.

The iconic morphology of the peninsula inspired the shape of our project since its natural landscape authenticity is a vital part of the beauty and attractiveness of this coastal area. Integrating the architecture in a seamless landscape gesture allowed us to draw a new coastline for humans and nature by creating an image of a uniform space and a gentle
connection between the land and the water.

The goal is to have a building that is perceived differently from a different point of view. From the beautiful villas and panoramic walks on the hill the new Nautical Base appears as an organic extension of the coast, on the other hand, for the navigators and the bathers the architecture trigger a sort of illusion of a regatta taking place on the horizon, thanks to the presence of the sails on the main facade.