Khapa

The KHAPA building is built around a central atrium, which provides the building with light and breathing space. Following malfunctions during the operating phase on the two façades facing the outer extremities, we intervened to completely rethink the operation of the operable elements and replace these two façades, while retaining the existing framework over its entire height. The project enabled the original function to be restored, natural ventilation and smoke extraction to be secured, and the interior street to be given a new lease of life by incorporating bioclimatic operation through optimisation of the opening of operable elements in ventilation mode.

The façade on the covered street is an aluminium grid façade set on a metal frame. All the glazed panels form large operable elements measuring approximately 1.8 x 3.00 m. The original operable elements were mechanically undersized and their tolerances were incompatible with the weight of the glazing. The solution developed involved the manufacture and installation of new thermally broken frames incorporating steel reinforcements and insulating glass units, combined with an outward-opening hinged mechanism powered by synchronised chain boxes. The opening angle has been calibrated to meet regulatory requirements for smoke extraction and natural ventilation, while the frames and glazing guarantee the mechanical behaviour, thermal performance and overall water proofing of the façade.