Elliptical nest

The façade of a mysterious building in the French municipality of Marly-le-Roi impresses us with its bright green glow. For it isn’t until you learn about the history of the medical therapy centre and its complex aluminium skin that you become fully aware of the potential of the PREFA rhomboid tile as a design element: Adopting the elliptical, multiply curved form, it refers to the city’s colour canon in various shades of green, traditional parks and the centre’s service offering with a scaly reference to the snake of Asclepius, the Greek god of healing. But most importantly, the tile illustrates how it was able to follow the ideas that the executing office 2AD Architecture had for this peculiar, nest-like architecture.

 

Follow the architectural visions that come true with the rhomboid tile in the PREFARENZEN book 2023.

The elliptical medical therapy centre in Marly-le-Roi and the park around it from a bird's eye view from the side.
Portrait of the lead architect Martin Armingeat from the office 2AD Architecture from Vanves.

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Text: Anneliese Heinisch
Photos: Croce & Wir