The project is located in the south of France, in the Luberon a Regional Natural Park. This park has previously hosted military launch bases. 18 silos have been dug for the missiles as well as some galleries.
The current program consists of the creation of an Energy Interpretation Center (CIE) grouping an exhibition route allowing to approach energies in a new way and a space for researchers, either office, a relaxation area with a kitchen and an auditorium.
Different exercises were given to us to carry out this project. First, we had to think 30% of continuous void in a cube of 30 by 30 meters. We made these cubes in the material we wanted by making different tests with different dosages and materials.
I chose to use clay which is a material that I particularly appreciate its different characteristics, such as its plasticity, its thermal or even aesthetic properties with a wide variety of possibilities. I made some with earth found on a ground where I incorporated baking soda which brought out a white colour on the earth, or aromatic herbs and others in ceramic that I made at a potter’s house.
After several tries, I found a shape. The cube has rectangular voids of which cross the cube on each side. This form is based on an idea of digging and extrusion inspired by the history of the site and these bases buried underground. These forms are proportional, 3 or 6m sides on the front, punctuating the project. The parallelepipeds change directions every 2 floors. The voids created are then exterior spaces and the rest of the constructed spaces, interior.
Each void is openings allowing to bring all the necessary light inside the building while playing with the shifts, the views and passages inside the project. The latter is made of wood while all the exterior facades are made of earth. Some of them give access to large terraces.
To preserve the views and the site, while drawing inspiration from the history of the place, the project is dug into the ground in the image of old missiles. Because of the geography of the site, the arrival can be done either by public transport or by car, so parking was created, dug to conceal it and accommodate a reasonable number of people.
Arriving towards the building is then done by descending by stairs forming an integral part of the ground and allowing to gradually discover the building, from top to bottom.
The circulation space inside the building is continuous, to limit heat loss. For the same reasons, an airlock was created at the entrance of the building. The circulation between the spaces reserved for researchers and visitors is separate. The arrangements and materials used have been designed to ensure that the activities can coexist. I also carried out an acoustic study which can be found on the following pages analyzing the propagation of sound between the auditorium and the offices.
The offices are diverse with different spaces allowing to propose a panel of spaces to work, either standing, sitting at a simple or larger desk, meeting rooms, more individual places or the auditorium, which can be inhabited in different ways.
Visitors can take advantage of the exhibition by going upstairs, different qualities of space are offered, more or less bright, sometimes with openings in height to have an indirect light streak and with varying heights.
A restaurant on the highest floor has been designed so that both visitors and people working on the premises can enjoy a moment of relaxation and sharing.
