Extension of the University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour

The extension of the University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour uses the glazed terracotta tile on the front to diffuse the good light, but also to play with the surrounding colors.

A project that unites the past with the future

Built in the 70s like an American campus (outside the city center and bordered by a park), the University of Law, Economics and Management of Pau and Pays de l'Adour expressed the need to expand. The project was to be inspired by the existing architecture of André Grésy, a personality who contributed to the architectural identity of Pau, while bringing a new approach respectful of current environmental requirements. The particularity of this university lies in its location in the middle of nature, connected by pedestrian paths.

Patrick Mauger, architect based in Paris, selected for the project, “Likes to understand an existing building to take it further. It's like accompanying a person in life, you must first understand them before helping them move forward. He noticed here that the buildings displayed a strong horizontality underlined by bands covered with terracotta. “We had to take this heritage into account. "

Combining warmth and light

As with the rest of the establishment, the recent extension must provide sufficient light for students and staff while guaranteeing great comfort from a thermal point of view. The perforated caps designed by Patrick Mauger follow the same angle as the terracotta “strips” of existing buildings, with enlarged bay windows. The density of perforations of the caps, the play of full and voids, vary according to the orientation of the building: more dense in the northeast and northwest, less dense in the south, in order to adjust the light supply.

The architect wanted a specific dimension for the tiles - 10 x 20 centimeters - with a large choice of colors. A previous partnership with Wienerberger had met all of its expectations (for the Halles technologiques project, École Nationale Supérieure d'Arts et Métiers-ParisTech). A new collaboration was therefore naturally necessary.

Vibrate with terracotta

Several arguments convinced Patrick Mauger to use glazed terracotta. He is very sensitive to "Old-style enameling which avoids the too perfect, too homogeneous appearance. If the architecture of the building is modern, its personality asserts itself with this set of glazed tiles of several colors. "

The colors (yellow, red and blue) were chosen in relation to the frame, of course, but also according to the trees planted during the site, the Ginkgo Biloba. Indeed, the green of its leaves turns orange and then golden yellow in the fall. The scattered leaves thus respond to the colors of the tiles, like a punctuation of the facade on the lawns.

This play of colors juxtaposed with the voids of the perforations brings a movement to the buildings which recalls the impressionist paintings. The screened light which passes through the perforations travels through the rooms, like the Moulin de la Galette in Renoir. In this regard, Patrick Mauger emphasizes that “The history of the arts invites itself into a project such as this. "

Result: the extension of the UPPA was awarded in 2016 at the Grand Prix “La Tuile Terre Cuite Architendance” in the tertiary building category and appears in the annual AMC 2016 of the 100 buildings of the year.

Summary

Extension of the University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour by Patrick Mauger Architecture.
Site awarded in 2016 at the Grand Prix “La Tuile Terre Cuite Architendance” in the tertiary building category - Realization published in the annual AMC 2016 of the 100 buildings of the year.
The 25.500 custom glazed terracotta tiles create a set of voids and solids on the facade.
The effects of perforations are more or less dense depending on the orientation of the building to adjust the light and heat supply.