Chalucet Media Library in Toulon - Insulated white concrete façades bridging heritage and contemporary architecture

Chalucet Media Library in Toulon, southern France, designed by Corinne Vezzoni & Associés as part of the Chalucet creativity and knowledge district – completed in 2020

Project overview

Key project data

Architectural design and construction using the GBE System

What architectural and climatic requirements did the façade need to address?

The media library had to establish a relationship between a contemporary building and three historic elements retained on the site: the chapel, the nineteenth-century entrance pavilion and the east wing of the former seventeenth-century hospice. The south façade had to recover the scale and rhythm of the demolished wing without literally reproducing the historic architecture, while the north façade was intended to express the new district through large areas of solid wall and generous openings. The Mediterranean climate also required solar exposure and glare to be controlled within the reading areas. The south-facing windows are therefore set deep within recessed openings that provide shade, while the north-facing openings favour diffuse natural light. The wall also had to combine thermal insulation, structural performance and exposed concrete on both faces. The mass of the internal concrete leaf contributes to the thermal mass of the building, while the integrated insulation helps reduce heating and cooling demand.

Why was the GBE System suited to this project?

The GBE System was suited to the project because it made it possible to retain a single material expression – white concrete – visible both externally and internally, without introducing an internal lining that would conceal the structure. The system is not prefabricated: the two reinforced concrete leaves are cast simultaneously in place on either side of the insulation. This construction method retains the architectural freedom of conventional cast-in-place concrete and avoids the repeated joints associated with the assembly of prefabricated panels. It allowed the façades to be precisely adapted to the interfaces with the historic fabric, the rhythm of the openings and the depth of the recessed bays. The white concrete itself was specifically developed for the project: aggregates from a quarry in Le Revest were incorporated into the mix to reflect the mineral tones of the Toulon landscape and the historic elements of the site. Structure, insulation and architectural finish are therefore combined within a single wall assembly.

What benefits does this project demonstrate?

The Chalucet Media Library demonstrates the benefits of a façade combining load-bearing structure, integrated thermal insulation, thermal mass and an architectural concrete finish. The 21 cm of expanded polystyrene insulation is protected between two concrete leaves and provides continuity of insulation throughout the standard wall areas. The mass of the internal concrete leaf helps moderate rapid temperature fluctuations and contributes to summer comfort, complementing the solar protection strategy and the orientation of the openings. Together, these measures help reduce heating and cooling demand. Protecting the insulation within the concrete wall and avoiding an additional applied façade system also reduce the number of exposed components and associated envelope maintenance requirements, which is particularly relevant for a public-sector client responsible for the building over the long term. The building achieved Bronze level under the Bâtiments Durables Méditerranéens environmental assessment framework during both the design and construction phases.

Project awards and recognition

The Bâtiments Durables Méditerranéens recognition applies to the media library as a whole. The ÉcoQuartier and Quartier Durable Méditerranéen certifications apply to the Chalucet district rather than specifically to the building or the GBE System.