The “Pavillon de l’Arsenal” in Paris, built in 1878-79 by the architect Clément and restored in 1987-88 by Reichen and Robert, established itself in 1988 as a center for information, documentation and exhibition of architecture and urbanism.

FORM

Concept and spatial shape (form)

A thin concrete shell is the basis for the entire design of the Pavillon de l’Arsenal’s permanent exhibition space. The shell is supported by itself and embraces wall, floor and ceiling in one continuous gesture in three dimen­sions. This allows for a spatial continuity between the Great Hall and its annex, forming one single-surface unit.

THIN SKIN

Cast in ultra-high-performance Ductal® concrete, the shell's skin is only 18

mm thick. It is active in the human sense – perceptive to temperature, sound, smell and variations in the living material – as well as being structu­ral, durable and recyclable.

SHELL CONSTRUCTION

The shell is dissociated from floor, walls and ceiling. This void allows for the installation of projection devices, showcase displays, and access for necessary technical maintenance.

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY

The mineral shell serves as a screen onto which the exhibition is projected.

Graphic documents and images are applied onto extremely thin (0.8 mm)

electroluminescent membranes. Completed with LCD screens and large-scale video presentations, the scenic space dissolves into

visual weightlessness.

ENGAGEMENT IN TRANSFORMATION

The nature of the exhibition space and its particular functionality leads to a continuous renewal of new material enabling the viewer’s active engage­ment with the city’s history in its continuous transformation

Design

Light weight tables were designed for representation of models(120x120x45cm) in sandwich aluminium panles