Maison de l’Habitat Durable in Lille by Atelier 9.81

Selected last February, Atelier 9.81 will begin work in November on converting the factory in Lille's Wazemmes district into the Maison de l’Habitat Durable. Completion is expected in March 2013. The team led by Demathieu et Bard stood out thanks to the architects' commitment to refurbishing the existing factory.

The Maison de l’Habitat Durable aims to be a model, an example to follow. In a working-class, densely built-up neighbourhood such as Wazemmes, the emphasis is on reusing what is already there. This BBC-certified building shows that heritage conservation is compatible with the energy requirements of the future.

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The new facility stands close to the neighbourhood centre. Although it blends into the site, the project is provocative, to say the least (or perhaps suggestive of a way forward). A plant-covered house sits on top of the Maison de l’Habitat. Is it the cladding of tomorrow? No, but it is a remedy for our preferred mode of transport, helping to clean up our environment. Raising the planted house on the existing base heightens its visibility as a landmark.

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Beneath this house, a former factory is being converted into an advice hub. Residents will be able to find out about the support the State offers for sustainable construction. Advisers will guide homeowners through their projects. The space is set in a flexible, playful environment: flexible, so that it can respond to possible changes in needs or use; playful, so that sustainable solutions can be communicated effectively. The building will be partly covered with solar panels, and its internal insulation is based on Métis, a recycled product.

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Behind this brick building, a bioclimatic greenhouse will be built, providing a cooling entrance in summer and designed to be fully demountable. It acts as a showcase for the building's features, as do the rainwater harvesting tank and the ventilation system with heat recovery. From a distance, the project will be marked by a tall chimney used for natural ventilation, fitted with a display board showing the building's energy performance in real time.