The Academy is a compact building with natural ventilation, a timber structure, and efficient façades that reduce thermal losses and energy consumption, achieving strong passive performance and an operation aligned with low‑energy objectives.
The new building of the French Maritime Academy of Saint‑Malo incorporates an energy strategy based on compactness, the rational use of materials, and the passive optimisation of comfort. The design begins with a very compact volume that reduces the exposed surface area and thus thermal losses, helping to achieve a low primary energy consumption of 35.3 kWhep/m²· year. The interior layout is organised around a covered street with zenithal lighting, which takes advantage of natural ventilation to reduce reliance on mechanical systems and maintain stable conditions in common areas.
The structure, based on a timber superstructure—columns, beams, floor slabs, and walls—combined with the occasional use of concrete, provides a balance between thermal inertia and reduced environmental impact. The ribbed CLT slabs, with optimised spans, use less material and improve the building’s overall efficiency by reducing embodied energy and supporting more stable thermal behaviour.
The design incorporates MOB‑type façades, contributing to strong thermal performance without relying on complex systems. The entire project is supported by a strategy of shared use of spaces and a BIM approach that helps adjust consumption and maintain coherent energy performance throughout the building’s life cycle.
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