Our office took part in the competition to build a new police station in Carmaux. This programme is to be developed on a very special site, marked by its geolocation, at the crossroads of two towns, surrounded by several access roads, including two departmental roads, and crossed by a high-voltage power line. The project therefore had to be located along the Paul Vialar service road and built lengthways. The layout of the building, means that accesses are evenly distributed and meet specific needs. The building is developed on 3 structural frames around 2 corridors, a technical choice that allows the spaces to be modular. The rooms are defined by non-load-bearing partitions and can therefore be adapted to the building's future development and needs. The public reception area, which is freely accessible, is restricted to the reception hall and its waiting area, thus limiting traffic within the police station itself. Beyond this area, access is accompanied. The station chief, the central point of this configuration, has a view of the public reception area, permanent control over the security area and its accesses, as well as a view of the service car park, its access and its vehicles. The security zone, at the heart of the building and facing the inner courtyard, prevents any interaction with the public domain and runs alongside the service car park. Quick access to this area limits interaction when people in police custody enter and leave. Most of the offices are grouped together in the same area, allowing common spaces to be shared and facilitating exchanges between departments. They are arranged along the central corridor, mainly using light partitions, so that the premises can be easily rearranged according to the final chosen organisation, or future modifications.

Location: Carmaux, France

Client: Préfet de la Zone de Défense et de Sécurité Sud

Surface: 1 147 m² and 2 300 m² for the outdoor planning

Cost: 2 645 000 €

Program: new construction, outdoor planning