Sustainability in Action
Today in Europe (especially its central and northern parts) there is a kind of trend for innovative architectural solutions in the area of museums and research centers design devoted to biodiversity questions, focused on nature conservation, landscape. In the work of this kind of architects often has to take into account huge number of specific factors, not only associated with functional or aesthetic aspects, but also special local construction methods, characteristic for the certain region, relationship between museum’s mission and its environment, harmony between these elements.
The mansion of famous French naturalist Georges Durand in western France near the Atlantic coast- in Brittany, after his death in 1964 got in 2009 hope of a “new life”, as local authorities have launched a project for its recovery and regeneration of the whole area in total on which it is located. As a result, here for the first time the doors of “Museum and nature research center of biodiversity” were open to public, the basis of which was laid by the idea of study and conservation of the resources of the environment.
During his professional life as a scientist for 70 years together with his friends and colleagues he managed to gather a vast collection: nearly 5 000 birds, 150 000 butterflies and insects, as well as the herbarium of 4 500 plants from all over Europe and all this scientific splendor eventually was transferred to the The French National Museum of Natural History and then in the new museum and research center of biodiversity of nature.
The architects, bureau Guinée*Potin Architectes had a very difficult task, because the requirements for the project were very high. It was necessary not only to make fine and accurate restoration of the Durand’s mansion, but also to develop an additional building, which would complement the already existing, not suppressing it visually, and not dragging the attention only on itself, but to create an ensemble. In addition, the future complex, justifying its name, was supposed to demonstrate the environmentally friendly approach just as an example by itself.
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Text: Elizaveta Klepanova
Illustrative Materials Provided by Agence GUINEE*POTIN