“Orange safety paint” often marks industrial zones. Now, look at the Cube Orange.
The Cube Orange stands boldly in Lyon’s Confluence district. This area marks where the Saône and Rhône rivers meet. It is a beacon of architectural innovation.
Jakob + MacFarlane, a Paris-based practice, designed this eye-catching structure. They are known for exuberant projects that seem straight out of a sci-fi film. The Cube Orange, completed in the fall, covers 67640 square feet. It houses a furniture showroom on the ground floor and offices above.
Locals and tourists gather outside. They study its unusual features and snap photos. The Cube Orange enlivens the landscape. Once a run-down harbor district, it is now cosmopolitan. Lyon sought to boost its image and this building really adds verve to the Confluence district.
In 2006, Jakob + MacFarlane won a competition to design this iconic building. The brief called for an eye-catching structure with cultural programming on the first two floors. The upper levels would house offices. A key requirement was that the building envelope not fill the entire site. This inspired the architects to create a box pierced by three large voids oriented toward the water. These cutouts create an extraordinary dialogue with the river. It almost brings the river inside.
The building’s anatomy looks frenetic at first glance. However, it quickly comes into focus. The cube contains two cone-shaped voids. One drops down from the roof. The other angles up from the river. They converge at the center, creating a four-story atrium. Balconies line the west-facing opening, providing workers a peaceful retreat. This design ushers in daylight and channels hot air to a rooftop opening. It also reduces energy costs.
Another void connects with a promenade and adjoins a neighboring restaurant. The curvature responds to the restaurant’s arched roof. The Cube Orange slides alongside the old building.
The vibrant building envelope constitutes another remarkable feature. The architects sheathed each facade in a perforated aluminum screen. The pattern is based on the movement of water. The orange color refers to the site’s industrial past. The scrim reduces heat gain and affords solar protection.
The ground-level tenant, RBC Mobilier, hired Jakob + MacFarlane to design its furniture showroom. The architects conceived a dramatic display wall with cutouts that refer to the exterior screen. The upper-level offices feature concrete floors and contemporary furnishings.
The Cube Orange embodies sustainable development. The facade design reconciles thermal performance and visual comfort. The outer skin consists of a lattice of aluminum with holes. This simulates the movement of water. The structure is reinforced concrete and iron. The building is ready to connect to further floating terraces set on the riverbank.
So, the Cube Orange is more than just a building. It’s a statement, a conversation starter, and a vibrant addition to Lyon’s skyline.