housing built like Chantiers de l’Atlantique liners

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It's rare: here is a project whose visuals, whatever the angle, in no way show the aspect avant-garde. Because yes, “ Power 4 “, these are not only 32 accommodations which will bring life back to the town center of Trignac (Loire-Atlantique), on the land vacated by the former Léon Mauvais room and the medical center. It is above all a demonstration of force for a new concept of construction hors siteto which the Chantiers de l'Atlantique are far from foreign. “ A little revolution » for director Laurent Castaing.

“The future will pass through this, it’s obvious”

We know the context. A territory with great housing needs, a city center (that of Trignac) in full rehabilitation, a sector (building) which is questioning itself in order to recruit. Could the solution come from off-site construction? Matthieu Nédonchelle is convinced of this. This is also the group that he leads, the CISNwho will be the project manager of “Poudre 4”.

The future will pass through this, it is obvious. Both for reasons of cost control and working conditions.

What exactly are we talking about? In off-site construction, as many building elements as possible are manufactured in the workshop before being assembled on site. This obviously reminds us of something: the manufacturing of cabins at Chantiers de l'Atlantique, whose factory, located in Brais, has just celebrated its tenth anniversary. “Not just the cabins, all our liners are prefabricated! », specifies Laurent Castaing.

Shipyard expertise

The shipyard, although it could not take care of the construction (1) – “we already have enough” – brought its expertise into the design of the project. “Brain juice” that the designer-builder Aedes and the architectural firm Bertin Bichet more than appreciated. “We benefit from know-how, whilewe shake up our standards », recognizes Frédéric Jean, director of Edeis.

“It was not easy,” notes Laurent Castaing, first convinced by the former Chantiers, Patrick Pirrat, now director of Papi Conseil. It must be said that the objectives are ambitious: lower costs, shorter construction times, maximum time spent in the workshop for workers.

“We expect a lot from this project”

The construction of “Poudre 4” will also take place under the eye of the State, through the Banque des Territoires, which provides financial assistance as part of France 2030.

For the moment, we arrive at €2,200 per m2. This is above the 1,800 that we usually put as a social landlord. State aid allows us to close this gap, until we manage to lower costs further.

Especially since for Claire-Anne David-Lecourt, Loire-Atlantique director of the Banque des Territoires, “it is a project to national scope which also aims to be replicated with an increase in the skills of the actors. We expect a lot from this project.”

Two other projects on the way

Two other “demonstrator” projects will also see the light of day in the Saint-Nazaire metropolitan area, without the exact locations having yet been chosen. “These will be very different projects from the first,” indicates Laurent Castaing. Always with this requirement that nothing differentiates them from usual accommodation. “If we notice anything, it’s just that they will be of better quality.”

(1) Construction will be carried out by the Cruard company, based in Mayenne.

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