MODUL'AIR, a regional cluster dedicated to hosting companies involved in research, innovation and experimentation in the drone sector, is made from converted shipping containers. Located on the former Air Force Base 217 in Bretigny-sur-Orge, MODUL'AIR offers office, event and indoor flight spaces and is the largest project built from maritime containers in France and Europe.

The project was imagined by the architectural practice LFA - Looking For Architecture, and is characteristic of the "cargotecture". This frugal and innovative project offers the opportunity to contribute to the emergence and consolidation of technical solutions that accompany the changes in our ways of working and the associated spaces. The building is built exclusively in dry construction thanks to a global envelope formed by a metal framework bearing a roof and integrating a set of transformed maritime containers requiring only a concrete base. The envelope structure is composed of a metal framework clad with insulated corrugated metal cladding, alveolar polycarbonate or glass depending on the sheltered uses.

The main volume is divided into three zones - Offices, Workshops and Indoor Flight - each hosting specific functions of the "design - experimentation - demonstration" contium of the research and innovation centre. The maritime containers were transformed in parallel with the construction of the envelope on the CAPSA Container site in the Lyon region. 18 40 ft HC maritime containers and 27 20 ft HC maritime containers were modified to house technical or tertiary uses, both inside (office, sanitary and meeting containers) and outside the built envelope (containers forming the "antenna" totem pole, technical premises). The containers are connected and accessible via a network of metal stairs and walkways which also support all the fluid connections and equipment. The programming is accompanied by a simple bioclimatic approach that is graduated according to the spaces and the associated degrees of comfort required.

CALQ brought its expertise in managing complex projects, thanks to a methodology and rigour as well as its boldness, in close relation to the needs of the client, the architect and the environment. A first phase of support and coordination of the design studies, in close collaboration with LFA Looking For Architecture, made it possible to coordinate the architectural and technical studies and to consolidate the regulatory, financial and calendar aspects of the project, as well as to anticipate the organisation of the works ; a second phase of management of the works made it possible to monitor the execution on the site and to control the conformity of the works carried out, as well as to control the respect of the planning and the global budget until delivery. The logistics aspect of transporting the fitted containers from the factory to the site, as well as the structural work to consolidate the totem pole, required efficient organisation and appropriate phasing.