Concept
The upper portion of Rue Nationale, the cultural and commercial centre of the city of Tours, opens onto the River Loire. The site has seen many changes since the destruction of the Second World War, and, today, is undergoing another transformation.
This major restructuring project is managed by the Société d’Equipement de la Touraine (SET), which ensures the coordination between the different project actors contributing to the overall scheme. The project by Arte Charpentier, at the heart of the development, comprises two symmetrical structures, framing the entrance to the town along Rue Nationale, generating a modern composition of public space.
Inextricably linked to the history and heritage of the city, the project responds and relates to its surroundings at three different scales. The first is that of the region, employing contemporary architecture as a punctuation mark along the Val de Loire route. For the second, the scale of the town, the project makes ample reference to the architecture of Pierre Patout, responsible for post-war rebuilding, and for the third, the scale of the neighbourhood is addressed with a programme designed to enhance the quality of life of local inhabitants and residents, as well as visitors.
The upper stretch of Rue Nationale marks the entrance to the Val de Loire, and lends a strong identity to the city of Tours.
Program
Arte Charpentier’s scheme comprises a mixed development of hotels, shops and apartments. In total, the programme includes 15 apartments, a 4-star hotel of 90 rooms, a 3-star hotel of 71 rooms, and 1710 m² of commercial space including 3 shops and 2 small supermarkets.
The two Hilton hotels of 7 storeys, organised in a symmetrical composition on either side of Rue Nationale, tie in well with the existing urban fabric. The hotels sit on a ground storey of shops, and their height respects the nearby bell tower of the church of Saint Julien. On the side facing the Loire, the glazed facades reflect water and sky, and the stone and steel facades of the street frontage mark the end of the urban context and the arrival at the river’s edge.
Team
Client
– Client developer: Eiffage Immobilier
– Investor: La Set
– Hoteliers: Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Hampton
Project Design Team
– Architect team representative: Arte Charpentier Architectes
– Illustration: Yam Studio
Project specifics
– Title: Porte de la Loire
– Address: Rue Nationale
– Postcode: 37000
– Town: Tours
– Completion: ongoing
– Area: 11 000 m²
Official project website: http://www.portedeloire-tours.fr/
