La cartoucherie

H2o architectes renovated a historical industrial building in southern France built in 1915, and now transformed to a coworking space for companies specialized in digital creation.

H2o architects went through a second renewal and rehabilitation project of an industrial building listed as Historic Monument in Bourg-les-Valence, southern France. The Cartoucherie is made of a parallel buildings that follow the natural slope of the ground, built in different phases, starting in 1915.

h2o architectes, La Cartoucherie, Bourg-les-Valence, 2017. Photo Julien Attard
h2o architectes, La Cartoucherie, Bourg-les-Valence, 2017. Photo Julien Attard
h2o architectes, La Cartoucherie, Bourg-les-Valence, 2017. Photo Myr Muratet
h2o architectes, La Cartoucherie, Bourg-les-Valence, 2017. Photo Myr Muratet
h2o architectes, La Cartoucherie, Bourg-les-Valence, 2017. Photo Myr Muratet
h2o architectes, La Cartoucherie, Bourg-les-Valence, 2017. Photo Myr Muratet

  The first phase of the work led by the town and the architect Philippe Prost allowed for the rehabilitation of the principal building and of the courtyard. H2o continued the process readapting the “R Buildings”, to create working places for the Image Center of the Southern Rhône-Alpes. The architects preserved the qualities inherent to the existing buildings which are modest yet efficient: a spatial generosity bathed throughout by natural light, a repetitive and simple constructive system. The central hall, well lit but without a view, is the living heart of the project, a meeting space for the different companies working there.

h2o architectes, La Cartoucherie, Bourg-les-Valence, 2017. Photo Myr Muratet

The rehabilitation included a complete refurbishment of the outer shell – roof, glass covering and facade –, a new common entrance and an extension on the southern part. The R1 hall has an ellipse-shaped mezzanine, while the R2 hall in the middle functions as a common room with multifunctional pieces of furniture with counter, benches, kitchen and storage. At a lower level there is a data center, necessary to the companies specialized in digital creation, while a shared meeting room is housed in a shed-like space.

h2o architectes, La Cartoucherie, Bourg-les-Valence, 2017. Photo Julien Attard
h2o architectes, La Cartoucherie, Bourg-les-Valence, 2017. Photo Julien Attard
h2o architectes, La Cartoucherie, Bourg-les-Valence, 2017. Photo Julien Attard
The building before renovation
The building before renovation
h2o architectes, La Cartoucherie, site plan
h2o architectes, La Cartoucherie, ground floor
h2o architectes, La Cartoucherie, first floor
h2o architectes, La Cartoucherie, elevation
h2o architectes, La Cartoucherie, section
h2o architectes, La Cartoucherie, section


La Cartoucherie, Bourg-les-Valence, Valence, France
Program: multifunctional building
Architects: h2o architectes, ID+Ingénierie
Area: 2,420 sqm
Cost: 2,3M €
Completion: 2016