Lacaton & Vassal and Emmanuelle Delage to Transform Administrative Center into Mixed-Use Housing and Offices in Vannes, France | ArchDaily
Summary
Lacaton & Vassal, alongside Emmanuelle Delage, will transform a 1960s administrative center in Vannes, France, into a mixed-use complex featuring housing and offices, emphasizing sustainability and low-carbon practices.
Why It Matters
This project exemplifies the growing trend of adaptive reuse in architecture, promoting sustainability by repurposing existing structures rather than demolishing them. It addresses housing needs while preserving historical architecture, contributing to urban resilience and community development.
Key Takeaways
- The project aims to convert a former administrative center into mixed-use housing and offices.
- It focuses on sustainability by renovating rather than demolishing the existing structure.
- 35% of the housing units will be allocated to social and affordable housing.
- The design preserves notable architectural features while introducing modern elements.
- The initiative aligns with state policies to mobilize land for housing in urban areas.
Save this picture!Rendering of the transformation of the administrative building into a mixed-use complex by Lacaton & Vassal, 2026. Image © Lacaton & Vassal et Emmanuelle Delage. Model by Gwénaël GoshWritten by Antonia PiñeiroPublished on February 27, 2026 Share ShareFacebookTwitterMailPinterestWhatsappOrhttps://www.archdaily.com/1039144/lacaton-and-vassal-and-emmanuelle-delage-to-transform-administrative-center-into-mixed-use-housing-and-offices-in-vannes-france Clipboard "COPY" CopyLacaton & Vassal have announced the transformation of a former administrative center into a mixed-use residential and office building in Vannes, a medieval town in Brittany, northwest France. The project is part of a State policy to mobilize state-owned land for housing. In 2023, the French State launched a call for expressions of interest for a project on the former administrative complex, which housed several State services, in consultation with the City of Vannes. The winning proposal is a partnership between GReeStone Immobilier and Grand Ouest Immobilier, with an architectural team formed by the office of Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal, winners of the 2021 Pritzker Prize, in partnership with Emmanuelle Delage Architecte. According to the city government, the proposal was chosen with the aim of promoting resilience and limiting the carbon footprint by renovating rather than demolishing.+ 16 The Cité Administrative building is located on a site that is strategic for the city of Vann...
