Customised technology meets historical aesthetics

EHRET and Inter Stores create aluminium shutters for the Saint-Maur retirement home in Toulon that are true to the listed building

The Saint-Maur care home is located in the heart of Toulon's Valbourdin neighbourhood and is run by the Saint-Maur non-profit association. The U-shaped building offers around 9,500 square metres of living space and has more than 200 windows and French doors, many of which had aged considerably in the meantime

The renovation was technically challenging, as the shutters for the historic arched windows had to be individually reproduced down to the millimetre. At the same time, the strict requirements of the heritage authority had to be met, as the building is on the register of historical monuments and the original façade aesthetics had to be preserved.

Following thorough market research, Inter Stores, a specialist in sun protection and window and door construction from La Valette-du-Var, was awarded the contract to completely refurbish the shutters. The aluminium shutters from EHRET play a key role in this. Each individual shutter was customised with the utmost care and in keeping with the original style. They integrate perfectly into the façades and preserve their traditional yet refined aesthetics. They also provide summer comfort, ventilation, privacy and light regulation and offer residents a calming living environment adapted to the needs of older people. A realisation that skilfully combines conservation requirements, architectural elegance and quality of life.

The Saint-Maur retirement home - an establishment with a history deeply rooted in the Toulon region

The history of the building dates back to 1854, when the congregation of the ‘Ladies of Saint-Maur’ built a girls' boarding school on the site. Converted into a family home in 1906 and a retirement home in 1982, the site was converted into a modern retirement home in 2006 with 130 beds, including 13 in a sheltered housing unit and two specialised areas for adapted care and activation. All places are eligible for social assistance and are therefore also open to people on low incomes. Nestled in a one-hectare wooded and protected park, the facility embodies a tradition of hospitality, companionship and care, true to the congregation's core values.

Inter Stores is an experienced and committed top partner of EHRET

As an EHRET installer with over 20 years of experience, Inter Stores has been part of the exclusive circle of EHRET Top Partners in France for three years. These experienced professionals work closely with the EHRET teams to communicate practical needs, share their experience and actively contribute to the development of the range.

Isabel Ferreira, sales representative, and Rémi Agostinetti, measurement technician and quality manager at Inter Stores, are in charge of replacing the shutters at the Saint-Maur retirement home. "The original shutter was made of wood, with bevelled slats, in a very specific shade of green. Our aim was to reproduce the aesthetics and architecture of the existing shutters identically while improving practicality and durability. The aluminium shutter was the obvious choice: light, easy to handle and maintain, it perfectly meets the requirements of a facility for older people," explains Agostinetti.

In order to preserve the original aesthetics of the Saint-Maur retirement home, the wooden shutters were replaced with custom-made aluminium shutters designed to faithfully reproduce every detail of the existing model. The choice fell on the Paris model from EHRET with bevelled slats in the colour RAL 6019, which can be ideally adapted to round arch openings, special formats with cross struts and details such as French express band. Each shutter is manufactured with millimetre precision, with the slats cut to fit the curves exactly. EHRET is one of the few manufacturers able to produce openwork louvre blades to fit curved windows precisely, thus preserving the characteristic aesthetics of arched windows.

Accessories such as female heads, hinges and fixings were also painted to ensure a harmonious overall appearance. A prototype was used for coordination with the client and formed the basis for the final decision. The model was also equipped with functional improvements, including a twist lock for ventilation while providing sun protection and an operating handle that makes it easier for independent residents to use. ‘This shutter plays a key role in summer comfort, as it promotes air circulation and natural light in the rooms,’ explains Ferreira.

Three essential criteria had to be met for this project: architectural conformity, natural ventilation function and ease of use for the users. Aurélia Comte-Marton, technical-commercial employee at EHRET, therefore visited the site in advance together with Isabel Ferreira to analyse the special conditions of the building and to translate the requirements into technically feasible solutions. The visit, during which Maurice Billo, President of the Saint-Maur Association, personally received the project partners, proved to be an important confidence-building factor. "The personal support on site provides security. It is a real added value and makes the decisive difference in a project of this kind," says Billo.

Installation is integrated smoothly into the everyday life of residents

Thanks to the perfect interaction between EHRET and Inter Stores, each shutter was individually designed, taking into account the different centre distances between the windows of this old building. ‘As there was no possibility of mass production, the project was based on careful craftsmanship and the experience of both partners,’ says Comte-Marton.

The original hinges were retained and the shutters were customised to the specific features of each floor. The ground floor shutters are around one metre wide, three metres high and have a round arch shape and four vertical hinges. In contrast, the shutters on the upper floors are slightly shorter at around two metres high and have two to three hinges.

"Taking measurements from hinge to hinge was a crucial step to ensure a perfect fit between the hinges and the existing anchors on the façade. Thanks to a technique patented by EHRET, this precise approach enabled millimetre-precise installation from the inside without the need for a lifting platform. While other manufacturers offer similar solutions, EHRET's process allows the shutters to be finely adjusted with screws during installation while fully respecting the site's conservation requirements," explains Agostinetti.

The installation will take place during ongoing operations, with Inter Stores ensuring precise and smooth organisation. The work is carried out room by room between 12 noon and 2 p.m., while the residents eat their lunch or take part in activities. On average, four shutters were installed every day during the first phase of the project, without compromising the privacy and comfort of the elderly.

‘With 80 sashes installed in the first phase, the renovation of the shutters at the Saint-Maur retirement home marks the start of three years of gradual modernisation - always in line with the needs of the facility and taking into account ongoing operations,’ summarises Comte-Marton. The next deployment with a further twenty pairs of windows is already planned for September.

"This project is far more than just a restoration. It shows how partnership, technical expertise and respect for historical substance go hand in hand. The result is a real benefit for the building and its residents," concludes Ferreira.