An archive building must be a building with high inertia and minimum exchange with the outside world. In order to optimise storage and achieve an interesting compactness from a thermal and energy point of view, we have oriented our research towards a simple and rational volume. Indeed, such a volume makes it possible to reduce the surface area of the envelope and thus to save on the quantity of material used, but also to reduce heat loss. The pre-archiving centre thus takes the form of two volumes, aligned with the street and located as close as possible to it in order to create a continuous built front.

The project appears first of all as a large closed mass. Approaching it, one perceives more clearly the opening formed by the transversal corridor of the project. This flaw not only reduces the monolithic aspect and scale of the project but also marks the main entrance to the pre-archiving centre while simplifying the distribution of all the premises. Two volumes on a more human scale stand out.

With economic and structural concerns in mind, we opted for a simple, clear and functional interior organization. The part dedicated to management occupies the central spaces of the project in order to reduce travel. In order to bring light and architectural quality to the spaces, we created a patio at the heart of the project. The archive rooms are organised in an extremely rational way on both sides of the management core of the building.

The choice of concrete as the dominant element of the building seemed to us to be the answer to the stakes of the project: known for its virtues of solidity, concrete benefits from many other advantages such as thermal inertia and durability. It is also a source of constant innovation, which allows great plastic freedom. It makes it possible to combine reduced energy consumption, comfort, beauty and serenity. Through this treatment, we wanted to reflect the image of a secure building that only offers an impenetrable envelope to the curious eye.