Atelier Architecture Perraudin, at the forefront of ecology

Founded by Gilles and Jean-Manuel Perraudin in 2017, Atelier Architecture Perraudin in the French city of Lyon is recognised for the prominent place it gives to various environmental issues. Having been in business for some forty years, Gilles Perraudin has a long list of virtuous achievements to his name and continues today - through the agency he set up with Jean-Manuel Perraudin, his youngest son - to follow the same path with the same fervour. Natural materials take centre stage, not as an architectural artifice, but as a structural system.

Atelier Architecture Perraudin (AAP) is not only based in Lyon, but also in the Camargue in the south of France, with a branch office in Senegal, a country that has seen the birth of several vernacular and bioclimatic projects bearing the agency's signature far beyond the French borders. “From the outset, we have built rammed-earth buildings”, says Gilles Perraudin, for whom the environmental issue has long been one of the essential constants guiding his architecture. Age-old know-how, local traditions, raw materials, the orientation of a building, the comfort of users… In short, these are a multitude of criteria that make the architecture of the AAP unchanging and sustainable. Stone is one of the materials used by the agency, as evidenced by several of its renowned projects. Get acquainted with a few projects that demonstrate the plurality of the AAP.

Four rammed-earth social housing units in l'Isle-d'Abeau

In Isle d'Abeau, a commune in Southeastern France, Gilles Perraudin, in association with Françoise-Hélène Jourda, has built four social housing units. This is an impressive example of the use of rammed-earth (adobe), a material neglected in contemporary architecture but traditionally used in the Lyon region. The complex is inspired by traditional houses whose interior spaces extended through verandas, terraces or balconies. These, protected by trellises or screen walls, form real living spaces according to the seasons by establishing the relationship between the residence and the street.

Wine storehouse and winery in Puligny-Montrachet

In Puligny-Montrachet, a commune in the middle of the Côte de Beaune (Burgundy), containing one of the most famous vineyards in the world, a programme including a barrel cellar, a vat room, as well as storage areas, offices and changing rooms was entrusted to the AAP agency. The agency favoured stone, a sober material present in the commune. The construction of the winery is compact and brilliantly responds to contemporary environmental issues. Although the winery and the vat room do not occupy the same plot, the two projects are a few hundred metres from each other and have completely different urban locations. While the winery is located in the heart of the village, the cellar is on the outskirts. In addition to their functionality, the two buildings are in harmony not only with their surroundings but also with each other. There is an unspoken harmony skilfully woven by the architects through the use of stone.

House in Djilor Djidiack in Senegal

This is the fascinating story of a mixed-use building that was to house a home, offices and a meeting room. The 600 m² complex was entrusted to AAP. Located in Djilor, Senegal, the project is a perfect example of natural construction that skilfully combines earth, stone and wood. It is a masterly designed bioclimatic structure adapted to the country, where the inertia provided by the earth limits the need for active cooling such as air conditioning. In addition, the use of wood favourably addresses various structural constraints such as medium to long spans. The sustainable qualities and ease of implementation by local masons make this construction an example for the profession.

‘Reflets de pierres’ with 97 housing units in Ferney-Voltaire

In the joint development zone, 400 metres from the town hall and the town centre of Ferney-Voltaire (commune in the Ain department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of eastern France, Ed.), Ferney-Geneva is booming and will boast 2,500 housing units by 2030, as well as various public facilities. AAP has been selected to carry out a project for 97 housing units on a 4,618 m² plot of land to the north of the joint development zone, managed by the OBRAS agency. The complex (‘Reflection of stones’) is located on a plot on the edge of the zone. This unique location has been exploited by the architects to propose an assembly containing two compact volumes, one with five storeys and the other with six, each with shops and business premises on the ground floor. The two buildings, designed using natural materials, are arranged around a private, green inner courtyard, which is the hub of the circulation routes distributing the housing units. Once again, solid stone has been chosen. With a thickness of 40 cm, it provides excellent comfort in summer through inertia.

145 collective housing units and shops in Lyon / ZAC Girondins

In the 7th arrondissement of Lyon, within the ZAC Girondins, on a plot defined by the urban planners of the TVK agency, Atelier Architecture Perraudin was commissioned, together with the agency Girin&Marie Architectes (associate architect), for the construction of 145 collective housing units as well as shops. It is a project that emphasises two natural materials: stone and wood. For the 105 housing units concerning Atelier Architecture Perraudin, a simple and repetitive structure based on stone partitions was chosen. As is their custom, the architects have designed a low-carbon complex using materials and taking into account natural resources such as light and wind, with the aim of ensuring comfort for users. The architects emphasise these are principles as well as precepts used in the past, such as the sun, light, wind and rain. The construction started during the latter half of 2024.

106 collective social housing units in Cornebarrieu Lot G

In Cornebarrieu (commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France, Ed.), on a sloping plot of land, the 52 individual housing units, including 10 social housing units, as well as the 54 collective housing units, including 36 social housing units, are part of the major projects of the Greater Toulouse Urban Community. The complex fits comfortably into its environment, adopting the plot and blending easily into the slope of the land. With its massive stone walls (40 cm) and larch woodwork, the construction stands out not only for its architectural quality but also for its environmental advantages and the quality of use of its housing. The architects opted for large stone blocks for significant economic reasons and also because they are easy to assemble. Contrary to what one might think, in such an intervention, the lifting equipment is simple and the labour required is not very intensive. This results in a clean construction site with no waste.

Gilles Perraudin is one of the pioneers of sustainable architecture, and his various achievements are a testament to his convictions. These are passed on to Jean-Emmanuel Perraudin, who currently works in tandem with his father. The agency's creations are unique, demanding and contemporary. They are among the great references of frugal architecture in France and throughout the world. Despite the desire to produce responsible architecture, the architects' struggle remains the same: to persuade, encourage and convince. Moreover, it should be noted that the association of the ‘Académie de la Pierre’ (Academy of Stone), of which Gilles Perraudin is president and Jean-Manuel Perraudin is secretary and treasurer, organises workshops. These enable the agency to work with the village's inhabitants, project owners and also experienced (or aspiring) project managers, with the aim of conveying the agency's ecological and heritage approach. “I have committed myself to a tough and difficult fight”, says Jean-Manuel Perraudin, while Gilles Perraudin emphasises: “We are all about architecture that makes people happy”.