Winner - T House
Reims, France
Architect Agency: Atelier Cadet Architecte
Fabricator:Frechin
Product solutions used: SOLEAL windows and LUMEAL sliders
Photographer Olivier Mathiotte
"The decision has been made to award the prize upon this project due to its meticulous renovation, which has revived the building to its former splendour. The project has preserved the building’s heritage and the integrity of the original design, ensuring that its fundamental characteristics remain unaltered." Jury comments
The T House project, located in the heart of Reims, spans 205 m² and was designed by Atelier Cadet Architecte. Hidden behind street-facing garages, the house offers complete privacy, adhering to local urban planning regulations. Unlike the vertical loft conversion, the same owners previously commissioned, this single-story house spreads horizontally, creating a serene living space. The home’s layout revolves around two main axes: the south and east side for public areas and the north and west side for private spaces, ensuring functional separation throughout the design. The living room, a primary focus of the project, was designed to be spacious, bright, and minimalist. It opens onto the garden with large, floor-to-ceiling LUMEAL hidden sash sliding doors, stretching nearly 17 meters. The glass walls allow natural light to flood the interior, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor connection. The four bedrooms, each equipped with SOLEAL doors, offer direct access to the garden, enhancing the home's sense of openness and connection to nature. Sustainability was a key concern in the design. The use of natural materials, including a combination of glass, steel, and aluminum, contributes to the house’s energy efficiency. The aluminum frames, with their slim profiles, are not only aesthetically pleasing but also thermally efficient. These frames, paired with the building’s bioclimatic design, ensure that the house benefits from passive solar heating in the winter and natural cooling from the shaded northern garden in the summer, reducing reliance on mechanical systems. The stainless steel finish of the aluminium systems complements the gold and silver-toned steel facade panels, harmonizing with the light steel structure and exposed aluminum roof. These material choices support both the sustainability goals of the project and its modern, sleek aesthetic. The careful integration of aluminium systems allows for expansive glass surfaces with slim profiles, offering a contemporary and open design that connects the home beautifully to its outdoor surroundings, while ensuring energy efficiency and comfort year-round. In essence, T House is a refined blend of modern architecture, sustainable materials, and bioclimatic design, offering a private, luminous retreat in the heart of the city.
Special Mention - Beton House
Sheffield, UK
Architect: Agency Whittam Cox Architects
Fabricator: Quest Solutions
Product solutions used: SOLEAL windows, GEODE façades and Stormframe STI doors
Photographer: John Kees
“It has been decided to give a special mention to this project for its exceptional work in skilfully renovating an aging building. The project successfully preserved the building’s original charm while employing basic yet effective materials to achieve a remarkable transformation at a minimal cost.” Jury comments
The Béton House renovation in Sheffield, led by Whittam Cox Architects, is a key part of the regeneration of the Park Hill estate, a hallmark of Brutalist architecture. Originally built between 1957 and 1961, the structure now houses 356 students in a blend of townhouses, apartments, and studio flats. The project preserved much of the original concrete shell while modernizing interior and communal areas to create a functional, vibrant student residence. Drawing inspiration from Le Corbusier's colour theory, the new façade incorporates bold layers of yellow, blue, ivory, and black, punctuated with red accents. This modern colour scheme was carefully designed to balance the interplay between the coloured elements and black details, ensuring a fresh, contemporary look. Replacing the original timber windows with full-height glazing opened the living spaces, allowing natural light to flood in, enhancing the feeling of openness and space. The once-dark under croft areas were transformed into light-filled communal zones for student activities. Key to the project’s architectural success was the incorporation of SOLEAL opening windows, GEODE curtain walls, and Stormframe II Commercial Doors. These systems provided both aesthetic and functional benefits, allowing large expanses of glass while maintaining the structural integrity of the building. The high-performance curtain walling and glazing ensured enhanced natural light and thermal efficiency, seamlessly blending with the building's Brutalist roots. Inside, the communal spaces were reimagined, with ground-floor colonnades converted into dynamic areas including a gym, cinema, and private dining spaces. The interior design was modernized with distinct zones for lounging, studying, and socializing, all aligned with the bold external colour palette. The thoughtful integration of furniture and interior finishes creates a balance between history and modern living. Béton House stands as a model of how architectural restoration can honour a building's past while revitalizing it for contemporary use, merging student life with a rich architectural legacy.
