This facility in Louviers, Normandy, accommodates 260 crafters of artisanal bags, small leather goods, and equestrian items like saddles and harnesses for the luxury brand Hermès. The project of the Lebanese-French architect Lina Ghotmeh is based on her ‘archaeology of the future’ concept,’ by which a building rises in its environment with memory of its location considered.

The timber-framed complex rises on an abandoned industrial site using 500,000 reddish-toned bricks, going by traditions of local construction. Evoking the trajectory of a galloping horse, the huge brick arches form the exterior perimeter and also the courtyard-facing facade, which generate large windows to let natural light in. The building’s square shape was inspired by the Hermès carré, the iconic silk scarf of the house. Harnessing geothermal and solar energy, this is the first industrial building ever to achieve the E4C2 label, the highest qualification for energy performance and greenhouse gas reduction in France.

@Tadzio