Objets Extraordinaires: Ceiling at Château de Ferrand

First Ideas

The story of the Orangerie ceiling began with a vision: to create a space where light would be the true architectural material. The Jouin Manku studio imagined this space as a contemporary setting, in dialogue with the château's heritage, but completely open to the future. The main idea was to surprise visitors: from the outside, nothing hints at the existence of this spectacular ceiling, hidden behind the sober elegance of the outbuildings' facades.

Inside, the project was inspired by the image of a living sky, a ceiling that comes alive according to the time of day and the uses of the space. The light had to be soft, adjustable, almost immaterial, to accompany both intimate tasting moments and festive receptions. From the very first sketches, the concept of a luminous mesh, supported by an oblong wooden ring, became obvious. The ambition was clear: to combine technical precision and poetic emotion, while respecting the spirit of excellence that characterizes the estate.

DEVELOPMENT

The design phase was marked by in-depth research into materials, proportions, and lighting effects. The framework, entrusted to MCE Perchalec, was conceived as the backbone of the structure, capable of supporting the discreet roof designed by SECB while providing a solid foundation for the interior layout.
At the center, the glass roof, designed and installed by Labastère, emerged as the key element of the project. It provides a well of natural light, filtered and calibrated, which floods the Orangery with an airy brightness without ever dazzling. This natural light interacts with the mesh, created by AOF, which features a network of thin laser-cut aluminum slats, assembled in a subtle interplay of crossings to form thousands of diamond shapes. Painted in a delicate bluish tone, these slats give the whole structure changing reflections, like a sky captured inside.
The lighting design was central to the project: lights concealed in the plaster moldings and wooden ring allow the atmosphere to be adjusted, from bright and precise for technical tastings to more enveloping lighting for more intimate moments. Under the glass roof, a technical fabric has been installed to diffuse the light and create soft halos in each cell of the mesh, reinforcing the feeling of space and movement.

PRODUCTION

The construction of this ceiling was a true technical feat, orchestrated with precision. After MCE Perchalec installed the framework and SECB laid the roofing, the Labastère team installed the glass roof, calibrated to the millimeter to fit perfectly into the oblong wooden ring that surrounds the space. This ring, also designed and installed by MCE Perchalec, served as a support for the mesh.
AOF then took over to assemble the aluminum slats. Each slat, which could be up to ten meters long, was cut, adjusted, and then positioned manually on site. This process, which took several weeks, required extreme precision to ensure the perfect alignment of the thousands of diamond shapes that make up this unique ceiling.
The finishing touches were equally meticulous: integration of lighting, installation of plaster moldings, adjustment of light intensity and tension of the fabric under the glass roof to achieve the desired lighting effect. The end result is striking: a ceiling that transcends its function to become a sensory experience, where craftsmanship, engineering, and creativity combine to create a space that is technical, contemporary, and deeply poetic.

Château De Ferrand, Jouin Manku © Nicolas Matheus

REALIZATION

Informations

System: central glass roof invisible from the outside, oblong wooden ring, aluminum mesh ceiling, staff moldings.
Mesh dimensions: approx. 19 m (L) × 5 m (W); laser-cut aluminum slats with a span of up to 10 m, blue finish.
Lighting: integrated lighting grid + fabric under the canopy for diffusion and halo in each diamond.
Craftsmen & roles: MCE Perchalec (wooden frame + ring installation), SECB (roofing/covering), Labastère (canopy), AOF (aluminum mesh and on-site assembly).

Credits