Through Xavier Paccagnella
Published on
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At the head of NM2A Architecture, the Montpellier firm of which he took over in 2018, Christophe Ramonatxo works with his entire team on many structuring projects for the territory such as the Hemingway high school in Nîmes, Building 5 of the University of Montpellier or the college of Remoulins. Achievements are linked for this discreet man who refuses to lock himself in dogmas and defends a “contextual” architecture.
Interview
You are about to deliver in a few weeks a project which is already causing a lot of talk: the new college in Remoulins, in the Gard. Where are you ?
After 15 months of construction, delivery is scheduled for next January. We have just attacked what is commonly called, in the jargon, the “OPR”, that is to say the operations prior to reception. It is a huge project, worth € 17 million, and an area of more than 5,700 m2. This is a total and demanding reconstruction because we are located in a flood zone, the hydraulic stress is strong. This major parameter had to be dealt with, in particular by constructing more than 4,000 m3 of retention basins. Add to this the immediate proximity of residential neighborhoods and expectations in terms of safety, biodiversity, integration into the landscape… Since my arrival at the head of NM2A Architecture, Remoulins has been the agency’s biggest project. If there is a lot of talk, I think it is because of its architecture: you don’t come across colleges on stilts every day! It is also, and I am particularly proud of it, because we display several high standards, in particular unprecedented environmental labels for a college, for example reaching the Gold level, the highest, of the Occitanie Sustainable Building approach. This college uses materials such as wood, stone, low carbon concrete, Camargue rice straw… and will produce more energy than it consumes.
What was your approach?
In a way, the same as for each of our projects. I defend a contextual approach, which responds to an identified need and is integrated into a territory. Architecture must be useful, durable and aim for a certain beauty. This is what differentiates us from the simple builder. But beware, architecture can quickly become locked into an ideological straitjacket; there is no dogma, no incontestable truth in architecture, on the contrary and the diversity of architects makes the richness of our territories.
As Nietzsche says, convictions are prisons.
Exactly. The architect must constantly doubt but also know how to make decisions when the time comes to stay the course of his project; For this he must always remain humble and attentive. We do not create a project for ourselves, but for others. It is with this same logic that we have privileged in Remoulins an architecture respectful of its environment by favoring sustainable materials, bio-sourced, short circuits. We wanted a low carbon and virtuous site while developing a strong and unique architecture.
Among the “constraints”, I read that you had developed a “BIM” approach. What is this onomatopoeia !?
It is an acronym for a new way of designing projects around 3D digital models. This model serves as an interface between the various stakeholders and makes it possible to manage data during the design, construction and operation processes, that is to say throughout the life of the building. For the college, we are in level 2 BIM, which means that we are integrating a collaborative approach. To explain it to you simply, by a 3D modeling, we draw each square centimeter of the building in order to certify its conformity, including inside the walls, since BIM makes it possible to model pipes, electrical ducts, etc. This work saves very precious time in the operational phase and, ultimately, improves performance. Another major advantage, by showing in 3D, we can involve the customer, make him actor of the project. It is a great communication tool for architects.
The tool at the service of man.
And a comprehensive approach. At NM2A Architecture, we manage each project from A to Z. We imagine it, we design it, we design it and we direct its execution; For us, this is the very essence of architecture. This will is our strength and will allow us to extend from the Mediterranean arc, where we are now, to other territories in the future.
To conclude, a word about the other projects in progress?
For the main and most current ones: the renovation of the IUT of Nîmes, Montpellier and Perpignan this Campus of social training in Montpellier, a recent FIBOIS reward for our work of fitting out the University libraries of Montpellier, and above all, the Maison des entreprises in Nîmes, an ambitious project, which will host the future headquarters of the CCI du Gard. A very urban subject and this time, tertiary.
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