Haute École du Bois et de la Forêt. Étude de programmation en vue de la construction d’un campus européen des métiers du bois et de la forêt

The programming study for the construction of a European Campus for wood and forest professions (“Haute École du Bois et de la Forêt”), commissioned by the Community of Communes of the Pays des Ecrins, has as its objective the elaboration of a detailed architectural program and a sketch for the spaces of the school campus. The installation site of the new campus is an industrial wasteland in Argentière-La-Bessé, whose soil would be both rehabilitated and integrated into the new constructions. As planned in the preliminary studies, the campus will host school spaces and student accommodations. To define the functional aspects and the uses of the area, the preliminary study - mentioned before - identifies a series of functions, defined in terms of quantities: spaces for teaching (classroom and laboratories), workshops, mixed spaces, media library, auditorium, common areas, reception, open spaces, administration, offices, meeting rooms, catering area, relevant and shared car parks. The architectural concept is defined from key themes that represent the characterising aspects of the project: restoration of the historical parts of the building, in particular the hydroelectric power station, which is the oldest part and an excellent example of historical industrial heritage from the beginning of the 20th century; conservation of selected existing structures as a memory of industrial pre-existence and their integration into the new architectural volumes and the new public space; creation of spaces for public use and sharing with other nearby functions (crafts, industry, school buildings); design of teaching spaces directly shaped on the school’s disciplines, to encourage innovative forms of teaching through the architecture of the buildings; creation of a «prototype» architectural project; integration of the new constructions with the existing valuable historical and architectural elements of the project area, which will be subject to restoration; application of innovative construction systems, based on the hybridisation of structural elements (wood and metal); use of technologies, materials and supplies from the short supply chain (e.g. wood km 0) and local production chains; creation of new outdoor spaces characterised by a functional mix for mixed and articulated uses in different seasonal periods and at different times of the day. To achieve these goals, a phase of discussion of the campus model was initiated based on program, functionality, distribution, architecture and technology, with several local and international partners: suppliers, manufacturers, materials and technology production companies, wood and forest training and research centres, etc. The document displays some preliminary studies focused on the general aspects of urban organisation and architecture, then develops some alternative hypotheses for the campus’ development, which are currently under evaluation.