For EDF’s central archive, LAN Architecture of Paris constructed a building that fits perfectly into its surroundings, meeting environmental quality standards and blending into the landscape around it.
LAN Architecture?s building to house the central archive of the electricity company EDF fits into its surroundings and meets high environmental quality standards. The designers arranged the principal functions (archive and offices) simply and rationally, solving the problems created by the extension of total archive space - 70 linear km of bookshelves ? and the building?s need for thermal inertia.The offices are oriented towards the northwest, exploiting a natural slope in the land with trees and plants, in a position with a splendid view over the surrounding area.
The monolithic construction five storeys high is mediated by a technical solution which was later patented: inclusion of steel studs in the formworks for the cement. The studs reflect the colours of the natural landscape and the changing seasons, giving this compact volume a light appearance.
by Agnese Bifulco
Design: LAN Architecture (Local Architecture Network) of Benoit Jallon and Umberto Napolitano
Location: Bure-Saudron / France
Images: Julien Lanoo
www.lan-paris.com
