The ZAC Andromède was created in 2001, opposite Aéroconstellation, at the heart of an employment area driven by the dynamic aeronautical sector and the airport. It is the first eco-neighbourhood in the Midi-Pyrénées region, with areas dedicated to green and blue spaces. The eco-neighbourhood boasts ambitious objectives in terms of sustainable development, which enabled it to be awarded the national Eco-neighbourhood label in 2014. It includes housing for all, offices, shops and services, numerous public facilities, vast landscaped areas and numerous public transport connections.
The morphology of the land and the programme, which includes housing and a commercial complex, meant that we had to approach the question of architecture by working the whole site on the principle of strips. The strips make up the entire surface area of the complex, creating internal streets. The positioning of the shopping complex is based on a folded treatment of the space. The fold provides a continuity of vegetation at the top and bottom.
The folds and strips create a dual dynamic within the block, creating different atmospheres in the living and shopping areas.