Paoli
The Paoli project transforms the former Jean-Paoli Clinic, built in 1953 in Arles, France, into temporary accommodation for students and seasonal workers. The renovation preserves the existing structure, retaining features such as ceramic sinks, lamps and flooring, while adding a wooden pavilion on the footprint of a demolished 1970s extension. The 1,320m² building houses 39 rooms, a caretaker's apartment and communal spaces that open onto a garden.
One of the most innovative aspects of the project is the use of locally sourced rice straw bales for external insulation - a rare technique for a structure of this size. The size of Paoli has enabled the development of a regional supply chain for rice straw insulation, setting a precedent for future projects to use similar bioregional materials. The rice straw is secured with a minimal timber frame system and covered with a lime mortar applied using the hot mix technique. This traditional mortar, made locally from quicklime, provides breathability and self-repairing properties, helping the building to regulate moisture naturally while increasing durability.
Continuing the materials research initiated by the LOT8 project, PAOLI applies a bioregional approach to construction, integrating local resources such as limestone blocks from the nearby Fontvieille quarry and compressed earth blocks made from quarry waste. A selection of local timber species - including oak for the structure, cypress for the exterior and Aleppo/Maritime pine for the interior - further roots the building in its regional context. The Paoli project thus serves as a model for resource-efficient, bioregional building practices that bridge heritage and innovation.
- Location
- ArlesFrance
- Surface
- 1320 m²
- Client
- SCI 3H
- Concept
- 2023
- Architecture
- BC architects & studies
- Structure
- Betrec
- Contractor
- La pierre au carrée, Menuiserie Correze, Tanzi, CVI, Guintoli, Novacier, Calvo, Fernandez & fils, CKAT, CLP, SOLID micropieux, Tonello, Rachid Mizrahi, SNEF, Briseno, Tonello, Nebraska, Barale étanchéité, Terres cuites des Launes
- Local architect
- ODA
- Bioclimatic concept
- Domene SCOP
- Wood structure
- AIS ingénieurie
- Garden
- Cabinet Petel Paysagistes, GER espaces verts
- HVAC
- BE2L and SOL.A.I.R.
