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Niwa is Tezuka Architects first completed building in France, and the new headquarters of GA Smart Building.
It is the result of an extensive dialogue and collaboration between Tezuka Architects and Studio Montazami.

Conceived as first part of a Campus facing the Piste des Géants (the cradle of civil aviation located near La Halle de la Machine and in the heart of the Toulouse Aerospace urban district), Niwa marks a shift towards a townscape where nature – or a secondary nature –is allowed the leading role, towards an environment of well-being.
The aim was to articulate the many flows arriving on the site. Between CREPS (a sports facilities, of large landscaped areas) to the South, with expected outdoors and sports areas to the North, via the future ring road footbridge. Also to re-interpret a new type of urbanity within the historical and symbolic heritage of the Piste des Géants.

Intentionally, we reduce the building footprint to create an expansive landscaped garden that would anchor the entire design. The garden successfully creates a naturalistic scene, seamlessly connecting the lower North side on the Piste des Géants to the future pedestrian bridge at the higher level, to the South. This terraced garden allows its users to enjoy a quiet moment of leisure or focused work, take a walk or engage others in an informal way.

Niwa`s position at the head of the proposed campus acts as icon and focal point.
The building is gently settled upon this ample landscape, as an interpretation of the classic pilotis.
Covered spaces are internalized and made pleasant, with the garden softly welcomed inside, shaping an environment of well-being.

Niwas working areas are designed to be highly flexible and collaborative, supporting GAs own culture of innovation.
The plan is non-directional, with different areas organized around a central square, making a wide, open space. In its multi-level ground floor, a multitude of services are provided: an amphitheatre, a restaurant and a library, with retail space facing the Piste des Géants.
On the upper floors, four levels of co-working space are made, including access to roof top gardens. These upper levels are designed as large open townscapes – void of structural elements – where a multi-purpose central square links all blocks. The entire office floor is future proof as floor management and different layouts are easily achieved. Soft partitions are made by use of furniture. Individual workstations, group areas or private meeting rooms are easily placed.

Niwa is a true example of off-site construction, paired with a response to the challenges of our time, particularly the climate emergency.
Making use of GAs native systems - including a structural ossature with fixed spans (not limiting the design), low-carbon in-house solutions, Niwa fulfils its role as GAs headquarters, also as a demonstrator of GA technologies. Furthermore, it stands at the forefront of a sustainable and environmentally centric townscape. With design beginning pre-COVID, it proposes a shift towards buildings and cities drive by people`s well-being.

Niwa incorporates Atom Wood, a hybrid wood and concrete floor, composed of laminated wood beams supporting a thin concrete slab. Other features are also brought in, such as high-rise timber-framed façades, active floors using bio-sourced materials, ultra-efficient energy management equipment using AI, geothermal energy, district heating networks using 80% renewable energy, in-house air-conditioning systems and many others, including a foray into furniture design.
Niwa means garden in Japanese.

GA gave us this question; how can we make this building sustainable and in deep balance with nature? For us it is a very interesting opportunity, as it aligns with our own approach. We design for People, Life, and this openness to natural environments can be experienced in our work.
So Niwa became a place where you are always very close to the gardens, natural light, with views all around, and a deep sense of being part of a community. The design creates shared spaces at the heart of the building, with open views and inviting interaction between its.
Everyone has a corner office. And in that sense, each floor becomes a little village or town where you can have your home base but also move around freely.

We dare to propose a new kind of townscape – where the natural environment is not an afterthought, but native to the design and essential to human life.