COMMUNITY HOUSE OF LORIENT BY JEAN DE GIACINTO ARCHITECTURE AND DUNCAN LEWIS SCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Oriental influences for a Community Center in Brittany

Some of us in the south of France tend to joke about the fact Brittany hasn’t much to offer other than rainy days. Though this is of course false (although…), the town of Lorient just brought us one more proof that Brittany is worth the detour. With the help of French Architect Jean de Giacinto and Duncan Lewis Scape Architecture, Lorient just got herself a new Community House.

The building faces the harbor. If at first the modernity of its design might contrast strongly with the rest of the town, this impression fades away as we realize the building actually symbolizes the town. First of all, its blueish hue is reminscent of the color of the sea. It’s evokes the building’s surroundings and the main geographic feature of the town, but that’s not all. A beautiful geometric pattern highlights the history of the harbor. Indeed, Lorient was point of arrival for ships coming back from India, and we can easily detect Eastern influences in the pattern.

Inside, the true work of the architects is reflected through the sensational feeling of openness and comfort combined with a real feeling of functionality and protection. These feelings are conveyed through the presence of patios and the blue glass facade that allows light to get in the building while protecting it from the sea wind.