The project is notable for its compact layout, offering a clear, functional space that includes a hands-on learning facility and a shared workplace for food sustainability professionals.
Project Name: Food’In
Studio Name: Ateliers A+
Location: Avignon (France)
Surface area: 1.092 m² floor surface area
Photo credit: Adrien Guitard
A strong low-carbon philosophy drives the design, evident in the use of natural materials like wood — used throughout the facades, insulation, structural framing, and interior finishes — and rammed earth, prominently featured in the 12-meter-high atrium. These materials help regulate indoor temperatures and reinforce a raw, authentic aesthetic.
In this building, nothing is hidden: structural and mechanical systems are openly displayed, becoming an intentional part of the overall design. This architectural honesty underlines the project’s key values — simplicity, sustainability, and transparency.
The exterior follows the same logic. The facades are oriented east to west to maximize passive solar heat and facilitate cross-ventilation, topped with photovoltaic panels to support energy efficiency.
At the core of the structure lies a full-height atrium flooded with daylight. It organizes circulation, fosters spontaneous encounters among users, and enhances the building’s thermal inertia. This design encourages collaboration and community among members of the network.
Outside, the project is rooted in its landscape with an arboretum resembling a traditional orchard, paying tribute to Avignon’s agricultural legacy. On the parking side, a recycled steel pergola and a windbreak hedge contribute to comfort during the summer while reinforcing the project’s sustainable approach.
This is a building that stands out — and deliberately so — through its bold, contemporary image. A building that is “bare and daring,” reconciling use, comfort, and budget through a necessary form of architectural frugality.
