Page 21 - Designing Ways 273

cultural cornerstone of Ville de Pont-de-
Claix's urban renewal.

The commission
Taking up the exact placement layout
of the demolished building, which could
not be reused, the architects created
an assemblage of volumes that link the
region's industrial past, embodied by the
white volume, with the contemporary
scientific focus of the new institution
embodied by the black volume.
The translucent, glossy white volume
houses the passageways and related
spaces, while the matte and opaque black
volume houses all spaces dedicated to
the dissemination of scientific content:
the planetarium, immersion room, and
permanent exhibition hall. Recalling
the universe's great mysteries and
humankind's place in the cosmos, the
black volume's monolithic, dark, and
mysterious quality invites onlookers
to fathom its scale, and to reflect on its
infinite expanse.
Inside, the vertical and horizontal
corridors are bathed in natural light, and
offer views of the surrounding landscape.
The volumetric design reflects the
building's function and contributes to
the site's global message: science that is
welcoming and open to all.

dw • Issue 273 21