The multifunctional Cité du Design was built on the site of the former GIAT munitions factory at the edge of the city centre of St. Etienne. The main building, the so-called“Platine” with a length of about 200 meters and a width of over 30 meters, is used for art and culture and design exhibitions and also house an art and design college.

The primary supporting structure consists of a steel framework. The roof girders span 30 meters across the building. The roof area of about 6,000 sqm as well as the outer façade with an area of 3,000 sqm, which are located directly on the primary supporting structure, consist of a total of 14,000 triangular aluminum elements in various designs.

These are partly sandwich panels, as well as single pane and insulating glass panels with integrated printed glass panels, which are movable for light control. Some surfaces are provided with solar panels.

The panels are supported directly on the steel framework using drainage seals of EPDM (2 drainage levels) and are fixed with mechanical fasteners concealed in the rebate space. As the roof area is slightly curved and the building is adapted to the sloping terrain, the shape and size of the 14,000 filling elements is repeated only four times. As a result, 3,500 different element-sizes are used.  

Architect: LIN Architects Photographer: Christian Richards Photographer: Jan-Oliver Kunze