Town Design in Saint-Etienne by LIN

Located in a facility in Saint-Etienne manufcatureras, the recently introduced ‘Cité du Design’Is a new institution for communication, research and education in design. The project is located in a historic site of a former factory. Getting power from solar panels and efficient heating system, the City Design is a world class urban center that honors his name.

The design was developed by LIN, With more than 40 million euros to build, opened in early October. Within the complex there are auditoriums, meeting rooms, exhibicicón spaces, a media library and courtyards with a lookout tower located along the hall.

The project is part of the renovation of several historic buildings, and the integration of “platine”, an observation tower 31 meters high, two gardens and P’lace d’Armes’, a large public Esplanade.

The “Platinum” is a laboratory whose skin adapts interclimático involving a varied program with exhibition spaces, a aditorio, the “agora”, a greenhouse and a media library. Responds to different needs in terms of light and air conditioning. Being also an expression of the diversity of activities of the City of Design.

A three-dimensional lattice estrcutura forms the walls of the complex, and within these open without any support or beams that are filed. The center is very energy efficient and heat exchanges used to reduce heating energy consumption.

The skin of the building consists of over 14,000 equilateral triangles made of different materials that help to control light, temperature and air flow according to environmental conditions. Some of these triangles are photovoltaic panels that generate energy for the building.