Copper-Louvered Provins Police Station Sits Lightly on UNESCO World Heritage Site

Parisian architects <a href="http://www.ameller-dubois.fr" target="_blank">Ameller, Dubois &amp; Associes</a> have designed an elegant, energy-efficient <a href="http://inhabitat.com/mini-prefab-police-station-lays-down-the-law-in-hanover-germany/" target="_blank">police station</a> for Provins that looks nothing like the staunch headquarters that typically reside in other cities. The Police Station of Provins is a modern, site-sensitive building that sits on a medieval <a href="http://inhabitat.com/green-roofed-chateau-barde-haut-in-france-houses-vintage-barrels-of-wine/" target="_blank">World Heritage Site</a>. Glazing and copper louvers help the law enforcement center harmonize with the nearby historic neighborhood.

The medieval city of Provins was named a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/australian-government-acts-to-prevent-permanent-damage-to-great-barrier-reef/" target="_blank">UNESCO</a> World Heritage Site in 2001.

The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/robocop-like-glasses-will-scan-and-id-400-faces-per-second-at-brazilian-world-cup/" target="_blank">police</a> station sits on a site that joins the historic center to a residential neighborhood, so Ameller, Dubois &amp; Associes had the task of designing a complex that did not disrupt the architectural flow between the historic and private homes, while respecting the heritage of the site. Originally, the site marked the gate to the walled city of Provins, so the architects took that as inspiration to create a police station that could also function as a gateway to the city.

The structure rises from a low <a href="http://inhabitat.com/restaurant-extends-diners-into-the-sea/" target="_blank">stone wall</a>, made from small locally sourced white cobblestones - this element is evocative of the walled cities of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/medieval-italian-village-restored-to-a-self-sufficient-eco-community/" target="_blank">Medieval </a>times. The wall houses the ground floor of the station and the parking lot, and offers a barrier of protection to the building behind it.

The second and third floors are encased with a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/glass-front-beach-house-harmonizes-with-indigenous-pohutukawa-trees/" target="_blank">glass curtain</a> on the front façade that floods the modular offices with light. They glass is lined with copper louvers, which gently filter the light while reducing solar gain. Three large sections capped with large windows jut out, directing sunlight into the interior.

The opposite façade is clad in <a href="http://inhabitat.com/o-houses-cut-out-double-skin-protects-it-from-the-suns-rays/" target="_blank">thick concrete</a>, which covers the more private areas of the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/new-ford-interceptor-police-car-is-25-more-fuel-efficient/" target="_blank">police station</a> - the interrogation rooms and holding cells. An interior patio fills the inside with more light and fresh air while maintaining privacy.

The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/hollenbeck-police-station-las-men-in-blue-go-green/" target="_blank">innovative police station</a> has a great set of architectural elements and green features that set it apart while allowing it to blend in with the rich history of Provins.