Surgery and obstetrics clinic

Enlarging the Aumont Clinic in Versailles by 3,000 square meters was carried out with two major constraints.

There were two major constraints: first, the closeness of the clinic to the Château of Versailles, and secondly, the wish of the clinic’s owner to keep it in operation the whole time despite there being only one access. AIM Hanemian Architects consulted the Versailles office of the “Service des Bâtiments de France” and worked in close collaboration with its Chief Architect right from their first outline sketches so that he took on the project as his own.

The design solution was to go for clear, simple new architecture harmonizing with the existing building rather than a pastiche of architecture of another age. The finest ‘noble’ materials were used: copper for the roof and panels of red cedar integrated into the metal and glass curtain wall of the façade. The wood was to be treated annually and eventually take on the appearance of ship’s timbers.

An original solution was found regarding the problem of building access to the site. Access was arranged via the neighbouring land which belonged to the city’s Water Supply and Draining Department. In exchange for this favour the Department was offered an ‘evergreen’ surface for the entrance and exit of its own vehicles. Access to the Clinic via its own entrance was thus reserved exclusively for the patients and staff during the whole of the works.