THE MAYENNE
DEPARTMENTAL ARCHIVES
LAVAL
FRANCE, 1989-1993
INSTITUTION
PR–069
The Mayenne Departmental Archives are responsible for preserving and disseminating documents produced by all public administrations in the department. Faced with the constant growth of its collections, the decision was taken in 1989 to extend the existing building in order to ensure sufficient storage capacity for decades to come.
PROGRAMM
The project combines the renovation of the old building, which will be used for public functions (reading rooms, exhibition halls, and conference rooms), with the construction of a new building dedicated to conservation and work functions (storage rooms, offices, and the director’s official residence). The complex is located on an open site, structured around a garden square.
Situation
Rue des Archives, Laval, France
Year
1989–1983
Status
National contest
Built surface
6 000 m²
Project management
Département de la Mayenne, Laval
Project implementation
Dominique Perrault, architecte
Local architect
Alfred Heude
Design offices
Séchaud & Bossuyt
DESCRIPTION
Accompanied by architect Alfred Heude, the DPA agency was named winner of the architectural competition on December 4, 1989. The extension project is based on an approach that respects the original building, constructed at the beginning of the 20th century: completely gutted and restructured, it nevertheless retains its historic facades. This approach allows for a “gentle” and gradual integration of the new structure into its environment.
READ MORE
This project marked the beginning of our exploration of metal mesh. Warp and weft mesh, still relatively unexplored in interior design, is emerging as a material with great potential. The studies carried out for the Archives served as a testing ground and prototype for the research undertaken for the Bibliothèque nationale de France. Convinced that what we hold in our hands is much more than a functional material, we focused on the visibility of its presence and opted for an ostentatious cable. The large curtain suspended from the ceiling widens the reading room. Natural light, reflecting off the curve, provides brightness all the way to the work tables. It hides the sound absorption device for complete silence. And all this without artifice. From top to bottom, a single strip, a natural curve, and a mesh that has lost none of its shine or quality today. The metal is every bit as aesthetically pleasing as the tapestry. The grain is embraced and amplified. Like art historian Daniel Arasse, the aim is to leave a mark: detail, for a closer look at the history of metal.
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