A new administrative headquarters for the Moselle et Madon municipal association has opened in Neuves-Maisons, France, marking the beginning of a major urban transformation project near Nancy. The building, designed by architects Benoit Sindt and Aurélie Husson from the Nancy-based collective studiolada, serves as the administrative center for 19 municipalities encompassing approximately 30,000 residents.
The project sits at the western edge of Neuves-Maisons, about ten kilometers south of Nancy, where a significant urban development is planned for the coming years. The current area, which houses workshops, commercial businesses, and a supermarket, will be transformed into a residential district featuring housing, schools, and sports facilities. The new municipal building serves as the cornerstone of this ambitious redevelopment initiative.
The two-story administrative complex takes the form of an elongated volume that deliberately mirrors the orientation and dimensions of the former precast concrete plant that previously occupied the site. While the architects initially planned to reuse the existing foundations, structural assessments revealed insufficient load-bearing capacity, necessitating a new pile foundation system. The surrounding areas have been unsealed and landscaped with green spaces.
The building's most distinctive feature is its hip roof, clad in reddish patinated zinc that remains largely hidden due to its shallow pitch. However, three pyramid-shaped roof lanterns covered with clay tiles draw the eye upward and provide natural lighting to the interior spaces. The facade consists of vertical Douglas fir slats protected by generous roof overhangs that visually echo the roof's rafters.
Inside, a central atrium extends the full length of the building, illuminated by the roof lanterns above. Two staircases lead to the upper floor, where a gallery features platforms that create small gathering spaces. Offices, meeting rooms, and staff facilities are organized on both sides of the atrium, structured by two deep recesses in the longitudinal facades that house the entrances on one side and sanitary facilities on the other.
A two-story glass structure connects the new building to an existing administrative facility to the north. The architects prioritized wood construction throughout the project, with exposed timber elements visible in the atrium including rafters, posts, and beams made from Vosges spruce. Wood wool provides insulation, while non-load-bearing walls between offices consist of 18,000 handcrafted clay bricks.
The clay for these bricks was sourced from nearby locations and mixed with straw before being shaped into bricks during workshops involving more than 300 volunteers. According to the architects, these clay bricks improve the building's thermal inertia, allowing it to operate without air conditioning. Several fans assist with natural ventilation throughout the structure.
The municipal association invested 4.2 million euros net for approximately 2,000 square meters of realized floor area. The completed building demonstrates the successful implementation of low-tech strategies and proves that administrative architecture need not be hermetic or monotonous in its design approach. The project stands as a model for sustainable public architecture that engages the community while serving practical governmental functions.
