Case studies

Montaigne Media Library in Frontignan, southern France, designed by Tautem and BMC2 for the Communauté d’agglomération du bassin de Thau – completed in 2014

Project overview

Key project data

Architectural design and construction

What architectural and climatic requirements did the façade need to address?

Located close to the Thau lagoon, the media library had to respond to strong solar exposure and glare caused by light reflecting from the water while maintaining a distinctly mineral architectural expression. The façade was therefore designed as a climate-responsive filter: openings are deeply recessed within the thickness of the wall, while slotted apertures and concrete screens provide additional protection for the interior spaces. The project also required the thermal insulation to be integrated without separating the load-bearing structure from the architectural concrete finish. With the GBE System, rigid insulation is positioned between two reinforced concrete leaves cast in place. The internal concrete leaf provides substantial thermal mass, helping to moderate rapid indoor temperature fluctuations and contributing to comfort during periods of high temperatures and heatwaves. At the same time, the integrated insulation helps reduce heating and cooling demand during operation.

Why was the GBE System suited to this project?

The GBE System was particularly suited to the project because it made it possible to construct a bespoke exposed-concrete façade entirely cast in place rather than prefabricated. This approach retains the architectural flexibility associated with traditional cast-in-place concrete and enables the construction of a continuous façade without multiplying the joints associated with prefabricated panel systems. The external concrete leaf was produced using integrally coloured self-compacting concrete, textured with timber boards positioned against the formwork face. The wall build-up consists of a 12 cm external concrete leaf, approximately 12 cm of polyurethane insulation and an 18 cm load-bearing internal concrete leaf, with a declared thermal resistance of R = 5.10 m²·K/W. The insulation is permanently protected between the two concrete leaves, while the mass of the internal leaf contributes to the thermal mass of the building. The system therefore combines in-use performance, durability and architectural freedom within a single cast-in-place façade assembly.

What benefits does this project demonstrate?

The Montaigne Media Library demonstrates the benefits of a façade combining load-bearing structure, integrated thermal insulation, thermal mass and an architectural concrete finish. Continuous insulation contributes to reducing long-term heating and cooling demand, while the mass of the internal concrete leaf helps moderate rapid temperature fluctuations and improve summer comfort, particularly during periods of high temperatures. The insulation is protected between two concrete leaves and is therefore not directly exposed to external weathering or impact. The predominantly mineral building envelope can also reduce the maintenance requirements associated with certain additional or lightweight façade systems. For a public-sector building owner responsible for the asset over the long term, these characteristics can provide whole-life benefits in terms of energy use, maintenance and envelope durability. Cast-in-place construction also retains substantial architectural freedom without introducing the repeated joints associated with prefabricated panel construction.

Project awards and recognition

These awards and distinctions relate to the architectural project and building as a whole, rather than specifically to the GBE System.

ENS Paris-Saclay in Gif-sur-Yvette, France, designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop for École normale supérieure Paris-Saclay – completed in 2020

Project overview

Key project data

Architectural design and construction using the GBE System

What architectural, structural and bioclimatic requirements did the gable walls need to address?

The campus brings together large teaching and research volumes, vertical circulation, shared facilities and different façade systems around an internal garden of more than one hectare. The concrete gable walls between the principal building blocks therefore had to meet architectural, thermal and structural requirements simultaneously. On the classroom and laboratory side, some of these walls locally support floor loads; on the opposite side, they border circulation areas and other spaces that remain within the building envelope. The GBE System integrates rigid thermal insulation between two reinforced concrete leaves cast in place while maintaining substantial concrete mass on the internal side. This thermal mass contributes to the campus’s bioclimatic strategy, which also incorporates natural ventilation, solar shading and the central garden. Integrated insulation helps reduce heating and cooling demand, while the exposed concrete provides the mineral architectural expression sought by Renzo Piano Building Workshop.

Why was the GBE System suited to this project?

The GBE System was suited to the ENS Paris-Saclay gable walls because it made it possible to combine integrated thermal insulation, structural function and exposed concrete within a bespoke wall assembly. The system is not prefabricated: the two reinforced concrete leaves are cast simultaneously in place on either side of the insulation using conventional formwork construction methods. This flexibility allowed the insulation thickness to be locally reduced so that the concrete section could be increased where required, creating concealed vertical structural reinforcement zones within the wall. The concrete surface therefore remains continuous without the repeated joints associated with prefabricated panel construction. Construction joints were incorporated into the architectural design through horizontal recesses. On site, some walls reached heights of nearly 7 m; concrete placing channels were used to limit the free-fall height of the self-compacting concrete and facilitate consistent filling of both concrete leaves without vibration.

What benefits does this project demonstrate?

ENS Paris-Saclay demonstrates the ability of the GBE System to combine structure, thermal insulation, thermal mass and architectural expression within a single wall assembly. Continuity of the insulation through the standard wall areas contributes to reducing long-term heating and cooling demand, while the mass of the internal concrete leaf contributes to summer comfort and helps moderate indoor temperature variations during periods of high heat. The insulation is protected between two concrete leaves, supporting the durability of the building envelope and a low-maintenance approach that is particularly relevant for a public-sector client managing its buildings over the long term. The project also demonstrates the flexibility of cast-in-place construction: local structural adaptation, continuous gable walls, large casting heights and the architectural integration of construction joints. The overall campus project received the BIM d’Or in 2015 and the Grand Prix at the 2017 Fimbacte Festival in the project category.

Project awards and recognition

These awards and distinctions relate to the architectural project and campus as a whole, rather than specifically to the GBE System.

Chalucet Media Library in Toulon, southern France, designed by Corinne Vezzoni & Associés as part of the Chalucet creativity and knowledge district – completed in 2020

Project overview

Key project data

Architectural design and construction using the GBE System

What architectural and climatic requirements did the façade need to address?

The media library had to establish a relationship between a contemporary building and three historic elements retained on the site: the chapel, the nineteenth-century entrance pavilion and the east wing of the former seventeenth-century hospice. The south façade had to recover the scale and rhythm of the demolished wing without literally reproducing the historic architecture, while the north façade was intended to express the new district through large areas of solid wall and generous openings. The Mediterranean climate also required solar exposure and glare to be controlled within the reading areas. The south-facing windows are therefore set deep within recessed openings that provide shade, while the north-facing openings favour diffuse natural light. The wall also had to combine thermal insulation, structural performance and exposed concrete on both faces. The mass of the internal concrete leaf contributes to the thermal mass of the building, while the integrated insulation helps reduce heating and cooling demand.

Why was the GBE System suited to this project?

The GBE System was suited to the project because it made it possible to retain a single material expression – white concrete – visible both externally and internally, without introducing an internal lining that would conceal the structure. The system is not prefabricated: the two reinforced concrete leaves are cast simultaneously in place on either side of the insulation. This construction method retains the architectural freedom of conventional cast-in-place concrete and avoids the repeated joints associated with the assembly of prefabricated panels. It allowed the façades to be precisely adapted to the interfaces with the historic fabric, the rhythm of the openings and the depth of the recessed bays. The white concrete itself was specifically developed for the project: aggregates from a quarry in Le Revest were incorporated into the mix to reflect the mineral tones of the Toulon landscape and the historic elements of the site. Structure, insulation and architectural finish are therefore combined within a single wall assembly.

What benefits does this project demonstrate?

The Chalucet Media Library demonstrates the benefits of a façade combining load-bearing structure, integrated thermal insulation, thermal mass and an architectural concrete finish. The 21 cm of expanded polystyrene insulation is protected between two concrete leaves and provides continuity of insulation throughout the standard wall areas. The mass of the internal concrete leaf helps moderate rapid temperature fluctuations and contributes to summer comfort, complementing the solar protection strategy and the orientation of the openings. Together, these measures help reduce heating and cooling demand. Protecting the insulation within the concrete wall and avoiding an additional applied façade system also reduce the number of exposed components and associated envelope maintenance requirements, which is particularly relevant for a public-sector client responsible for the building over the long term. The building achieved Bronze level under the Bâtiments Durables Méditerranéens environmental assessment framework during both the design and construction phases.

Project awards and recognition

The Bâtiments Durables Méditerranéens recognition applies to the media library as a whole. The ÉcoQuartier and Quartier Durable Méditerranéen certifications apply to the Chalucet district rather than specifically to the building or the GBE System.

ANSES–ANSM laboratories and offices in Lyon-Gerland, France, designed by Pargade Architectes with Moon Safari for ANSES – completed in early 2026

Project overview

Key project data

Architectural design and construction using the GBE System

What architectural and functional requirements did the façade need to address?

The building had to accommodate sensitive scientific laboratories, technology platforms and offices while remaining adaptable to changes in research protocols, equipment and future requirements. Pargade Architectes and Moon Safari addressed this constraint through a regular orthogonal grid capable of accommodating different types of infill. The solid elements constructed using the GBE System form the structural concrete grid, while the spaces between them receive glazing or timber-frame façade elements depending on the use of the internal spaces. This organisation distinguishes the durable elements of the envelope from components that may evolve over time. Integrated insulation within the concrete elements contributes to thermal performance, while the concrete mass contributes to the thermal inertia of the envelope. The cantilever also required continuity of the thermal insulation to be maintained where the vertical wall changes direction into the slab, without interrupting the architectural expression of the façade.

Why was the GBE System suited to this project?

The GBE System was suited to the project because it allowed an insulated exposed-concrete post-and-beam grid to be constructed entirely in place rather than prefabricated. This method retains the flexibility of conventional cast-in-place concrete, avoids the repeated joints associated with prefabricated panel construction and allows each column, beam, spandrel and lintel to be precisely adapted to the architectural grid. Metal subframes for the numerous openings were positioned within the formwork and cast directly into the concrete in preparation for the installation of glazing and timber-frame façade elements. Ultra Twin GBE self-compacting concrete, placed without vibration, facilitates the simultaneous filling of the concrete sections on both sides of the insulation in geometries narrower than a conventional wall. The system also made it possible to continue the insulation through the cantilever zone, connecting the wall insulation with the slab insulation while retaining a continuous concrete architectural finish.

What benefits does this project demonstrate?

The ANSES–ANSM building demonstrates that the GBE System can form the regular structural framework of a hybrid façade rather than being limited to a fully solid wall. The insulated concrete grid accommodates glazing and timber-frame façade elements, enabling the use of a bio-based material and reducing the amount of concrete in non-structural bays. The ECOPact concrete used for the GBE elements has a stated 30% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared with a comparable conventional concrete; this figure relates to the concrete concerned and should not be interpreted as a 30% reduction in the carbon footprint of the building as a whole. Integrated insulation and concrete thermal mass contribute to energy performance and thermal comfort, while the insulation remains protected within the concrete assembly. The light-coloured concrete is left exposed without stain or additional surface treatment, limiting applied finishing layers and supporting a strategy focused on durability and controlled maintenance for a public-sector client.

Project awards and recognition

68 social housing units in Lyon-La Duchère, France, designed by Philippe Dubus Architectes for SACVL – completed in 2021

Project overview

Key project data

Architectural design and construction using the GBE System

What urban, architectural and energy-performance requirements did the façades need to address?

Blocks 24 and 25 had to address several requirements specific to social housing: providing a high-performance and durable building envelope, controlling long-term operating costs and integrating buildings of different sizes into a sloping site between the La Duchère plateau and Parc du Vallon. Philippe Dubus Architectes developed a common mineral architectural language while differentiating the building volumes through variations in concrete colour. The façades constructed using the GBE System incorporate 14 cm of polyurethane insulation with a declared thermal resistance of R = 6.36 m²·K/W. Continuity of the insulation helps reduce heating demand, while the internal concrete leaf, located within the insulated envelope, provides thermal mass and contributes to summer comfort. The loggias represented an important junction condition: their specific design had to maintain continuity of the thermal insulation while enabling the structural support of the external slabs.

Why was the GBE System suited to this project?

The GBE System was suited to the development because it combines load-bearing structure, thermal insulation and the final external architectural finish within a single cast-in-place concrete wall. The system is not prefabricated: the two concrete leaves are cast simultaneously on either side of the insulation using conventional formwork construction methods. This approach retains the architectural flexibility of cast-in-place concrete and avoids the repeated joints associated with prefabricated panel construction. The light grey, dark grey and yellow-beige tones are achieved through pigments incorporated directly into the concrete, without an additional coloured surface finish. At the loggias, the external concrete leaf increases locally from 10 to 15 cm so that it can contribute to the structural solution while retaining the full 14 cm insulation thickness. The GBE System therefore allows the wall build-up to be locally adapted while maintaining the overall principle of a continuous, insulated and cast-in-place building envelope.

What benefits does this project demonstrate?

Blocks 24 and 25 demonstrate the relevance of the GBE System for a housing provider responsible for buildings over the long term. The 14 cm polyurethane insulation, with a declared thermal resistance of R = 6.36 m²·K/W, contributes to reducing heating demand, while the thermal mass of the internal concrete leaf contributes to summer comfort. The insulation is protected between two concrete leaves and the external architectural finish is obtained directly from the formwork, without stain, paint or render used to provide its colour. This simplicity reduces the number of applied layers requiring future maintenance and supports a whole-life cost approach. The construction process also retains a conventional daily cycle of formwork, concrete placement and formwork removal; an experienced site team achieved approximately 30 m² of wall per day. Once stripped, the wall is already load-bearing, insulated and externally finished, reducing subsequent finishing operations. The housing development also achieved the Effinergie Plus label.

Project awards and recognition

The Effinergie Plus label applies to the housing development. The ÉcoQuartier Level 4 label applies to the wider La Duchère urban development and not specifically to Blocks 24 and 25 or to the GBE System.

École Supérieure d’Art et de Design TPM, business incubator and metropolitan facilities in Toulon, France, designed by Corinne Vezzoni & Associés for Toulon Provence Méditerranée – completed in 2020

Project overview

Key project data

Architectural design and construction using the GBE System

What architectural, structural and climatic requirements did the façade need to address?

The project was intended to create an architectural landmark at the northern edge of the Chalucet district while accommodating a wide variety of uses: art education, workshops, exhibition spaces, a business incubator and metropolitan activities. The building envelope was therefore conceived as a large sculpture in white concrete, with long horizontal bands separated by openings that can exceed 4 metres in width. These incisions frame views towards Mont Faron and the sea, filter the strong Mediterranean light and create deep shadows within the thickness of the façade. This geometry required the design to address thermal insulation, structural support of the external concrete leaf above the large openings and the placement of concrete within horizontal bands heavily divided by opening formers. The internal concrete leaf also provides substantial thermal mass, while the 21 cm of expanded polystyrene insulation contributes to the thermal performance of the envelope and helps reduce heating and cooling demand.

Why was the GBE System suited to this project?

The GBE System was particularly suited to this architecture because it allowed continuous, insulated white concrete bands to be constructed entirely in place, without relying on prefabrication that would impose panel dimensions and repeated joints. In standard wall areas, the façade consists of a 15 cm external concrete leaf, 21 cm of expanded polystyrene insulation and a 20 cm load-bearing internal concrete leaf. The very large openings required specific structural detailing: where openings exceed 4 metres, localised concrete corbels are created by locally cutting the insulation, installing reinforcement and filling these zones with concrete. These corbels transfer loads from the external concrete leaf back to the load-bearing internal leaf while limiting interruptions to the thermal insulation. Concrete placing channels positioned between the large opening formers allow self-compacting concrete to be supplied effectively to the continuous horizontal bands. The system therefore preserves the geometric freedom of cast-in-place concrete while integrating structural, thermal and architectural requirements within the same wall assembly.

What benefits does this project demonstrate?

The Chalucet School of Fine Arts demonstrates the ability of the GBE System to support highly sculptural architecture on a building approximately 40 metres high. The white concrete directly forms the external architectural finish, with its colour incorporated into the concrete rather than provided by an applied paint system, while the thermal insulation remains permanently protected between the two concrete leaves. Integrated insulation contributes to reducing energy demand, and the mass of the internal concrete leaf contributes to thermal inertia and summer comfort, complementing the solar protection provided by the deep horizontal openings. The system also enables complex structural conditions to be resolved using cast-in-place concrete, including localised load transfer above the large openings without creating a continuous concrete connection through the insulation. For a public-sector client, this exposed material approach reduces applied finishing layers and their associated maintenance requirements. The building achieved Bâtiments Durables Méditerranéens Bronze level at the design and in-use stages and forms part of the Chalucet district, which achieved Quartier Durable Méditerranéen Gold level during both the construction and in-use stages.

Project awards and recognition

The Bâtiments Durables Méditerranéens recognitions apply to the ESAD–TVT building as a whole. The Quartier Durable Méditerranéen and ÉcoQuartier certifications apply to the Chalucet district rather than specifically to the building or the GBE System.