PROJECT DETAILS
Context: Premium Office Real Estate
In Vénissieux, adjacent to Lyon’s 8th arrondissement, the Grand Parilly mixed-use development zone (ZAC) combines high environmental standards with a diversity of programs. At the heart of this new 20-hectare district lies a vast plaza surrounded by four buildings. Opposite IKEA stands Leroy Merlin, whose real estate arm is the private developer of the ZAC. Two office buildings rise to the north and south, developed by Fontanel Immobilier, with Pegasus Group joining as a partner for the second building.
“We wanted a strong architectural statement to house our headquarters within this development we’ve been leading on behalf of Leroy Merlin’s real estate company for the past 14 years, through our subsidiary D2P Aménagement,” explains Benoît Petiau, founder and president of the group. For Fontanel Immobilier, a long-time investor in the area, “this Prime building was an opportunity to once again push the limits—architecturally, environmentally, and in terms of amenities,” adds Benoît Robert, head of commercial real estate development.
Following an architectural competition, a jury comprising the two developers, the City of Vénissieux, the Greater Lyon Metropolis, and the chief architect of the ZAC (Atelier Roche) “unanimously praised” and selected Z Architecture’s project Odyssey, featuring a striking origami-like glass façade.
Key Challenges: Architectural, Environmental, and User-Centric Excellence
Anticipating RE2020 regulations, Odyssey’s design was aligned with the stringent environmental standards of the Grand Lyon tertiary benchmark and BREEAM certification. Its dual energy and ecological performance is achieved through systems such as district heating and a photovoltaic green roof.
While the building’s envelope had to incorporate these elements, it also addressed three questions posed by the architects. How, on this new 124 by 67-meter Lyon-style plaza—where the building closes the perspective—can it serve as a visual landmark, while maintaining a “domestic” façade that respects the landscaped approach and neighboring buildings (some not yet under construction at the time)? Although it faces north, how can the façade be made to “vibrate,” as described by architects William Vassal and Guillaume Simonin from Z Architecture? And how can light be brought in and outdoor spaces offered to every occupant on each level of this 5,300 m², seven-story (R+7) building?
The answer lies in a spectacular pleated façade of glass and aluminum, spanning most of the 2,800 m² of glazed surfaces, featuring WICONA aluminum joinery made with low-carbon Hydro Circal 75R, installed by Diagonale.
WICONA Solutions: Precision and Performance
From the 1st to 7th floor, the façade overlooking the plaza (north) and part of the rear façade (south) feature continuous balconies paired with assemblies of WICLINE 65 Evo windows, arranged diagonally to create angular shifts—alternating concave and convex angles from one floor to the next. Each set includes four fixed and two full-height glazed operable units. To preserve slim sightlines, the double-handle patio doors—accessible from inside and outside—are fitted with concealed hinges. WICONA also adapted reinforcement profiles from its WICLINE 75 range for use in the WICLINE 65 system to accommodate the required heights (between 2,700 and 3,000 mm depending on the level).
On the penthouse level, recessed to allow for spacious terraces, large lift-and-slide WICSLIDE 160 units (L 2,250 x H 3,000 mm) with two panels and a recessed track system slide away to the east and west sides. From the 1st to 6th floors, the gables and remaining rear façade incorporate insulated window units with concealed sashes (WICLINE 65).
Finally, Odyssey appears to float above a fully transparent ground floor: a curtain wall made with WICTEC 50 gives way to WICTEC 60 to accommodate thicker glazing above the parking ramp entrances. Access points are fitted with heavy-traffic double-leaf WICSTYLE 65 doors.
The Benefits: Sustainable on Every Level
Odyssey earned a BREEAM “Excellent” rating, validating its strong environmental and user-friendly credentials. “The leasing process has been a success, with rent levels all the more attractive thanks to the building’s sustainability,” says Benoît Robert of Fontanel Immobilier. “Our team quickly forgot our previous—yet beautiful—headquarters to fully embrace the new one,” adds the president of Pegasus Group.
