Hugues Fontenas Architectes Conservation centre for the museum of Epernay

client

City of Epernay

architect

Hugues Fontenas

assistant architects

Laure Lienard, Benjamin Herr.

engineering

C&E Ingénierie (structure), Elements Ingenierie (mechanics + environment).

cost surveyor

Fabrice Bougon

floor area

1 300 m²

building cost

1 900 000 € HT

calendar

2016-2018

program

Conservation facilities for the collections of the museum of archeology and the wine of Champagne. Restoration workshops, photography studio, storage areas.

architectural design

An existing commercial building is transformed to house the storage and restoration facilities according to climate control requirements with limited mechanical equipment. The new envelope of this existing structure is made of white or polished steel panels.
In contrast with this blurred volume, the extension designed for the services is a solid block of dark concrete.

competition images

Atomgraphic

photographs

George Dupin

Exceeding expectations
Develop each project following a re-evaluation of both programme and anticipated results. Reply beyond the expectations of the programme. The principal architectural objective is to be found in the research of added, unexpected qualities.

Evolving surfaces
Architecture to be also conceived as terrains to be occupied in the future by still uncertain or improbable uses. Architecture as “reverse ruins” in an upturned archaeology that facilitates or suggests inevitable transformations. Therefore, when it might be tempting to be just spectacular, never hesitate to be simple and complex.

Comforts
Pay particular attention to all the complexity factors – functional, technical, regulatory, economic, aesthetic – and use them as a basis for future comforts. Distinguish structures, enclosures or equipment to consider temporal aspects of the project in a prospect of reversibility and diversity of uses.

Artificiality
Advocate and assert the profound artificiality, the non-naturalness of architecture. Conceive architecture in a grey ecology without naivety and in creative phase with the contradictions of our environment.

Aspirations
Associate production and research in resonance with an analysis of actual facts. Remain independent in thought to stimulate, guide and increase the pertinence of a project. Propose reality as an aspiration to do differently.

Founded in 2006, the office has developed its activity mainly in the field of cultural facilities with a strong interest and expertise in programmes related to the exhibition and preservation of all types of collections, from archaeology to contemporary art. Hugues Fontenas also teaches and conducts research on themes strongly connected to work in the office.