Atelier Cube + Bonell i Gil – Reconstruction of the Parliament

PROJECT: Atelier Cube + Bonell i Gil – Reconstruction of the Parliament

LOCATION: Lausanne, Switzerland, Rue Cité-Devant 13, 46°6'0' N / 2°57'36'' E

YEAR: 2017

ARCHITECT / FIRM: Atelier Cube + Bonell i Gil, Architect Lausanne Barcelona

BUYER: Canton de Vaud, Direction générale des immeubles du patrimoine DGIP

SURFACE: 2.786 sqm

PRICE: € 23.000.000

DESCRIPTION:
The dramatic fire of May 2002, which destroyed the building of the Vaudois parliament, put the owner in front of a drastically new situation: a site, witness of successive changes, was suddenly turned into a ruin, thus opening a new page of history. The main challenge of rebuilding an emblematic building on a ruin steeped in history is first and foremost an architectural and urban planning issue, completed the dual problematic heritage and energy attitude. To succeed in choosing an exemplary project, the canton organized from 2007 to 2009 an international architecture and engineering competition with a highly qualified jury. The choice of the Rosebud project on June 5, 2009 revealed a project that opened up the parliament by opening it on the main access street and giving it a contemporary roof, affirming the presence of legislative power in the silhouette of the old city.

DESCRIPTION:
To clear a sufficient surface and to give a roof to the space required for the parliamentary debates, the rooms of commissions and the refreshment bar while rebuilding on the ruins.

DESCRIPTION:
Funding is entirely provided by the canton. The budget was the subject of an investment loan voted by the parliament and submitted to a referendum.

- SURFACE present EXTENSION,

PREVALENT CONSERVATION / CONTINUITY: The overall dimensions increase moderately with respect to the pre-existing surface.

- VOLUME present NO VARIATION,

TOTAL CONSERVATION / CONTINUITY: The overall dimensions are equal to the pre-existing volume.

DESCRIPTION:
The volumetric variation comes from a surface gain of the parliamentary room cantilevered on the perimeter of the historic walls at the southern and western boundary of the piece of land.

DESCRIPTION:
No new spaces have been created. New access was broken by demolishing a building of low heritage value. This allowed to highlight parts of older buildings previously unknown.

DESCRIPTION:
The fire destroyed or heavily damaged all existing supporting structures. In addition to the consolidation of the foundation walls on which the new project relies, a new roof structure was put in place using a laminated panel assembly, similar to an origami game.

DESCRIPTION:
Reinforced concrete replaced the stone construction, which was of poor quality as a result of the water used to spread the fire. The roof frame has been coked with elements of surface wood, working in an isotropic way and allowing to release a large free interior volume without tie rods and carrying loads vertically.

DESCRIPTION:
"The true tradition in great things is not to redo what others have done, but to rediscover the spirit that does these things and that would make all of them different in other times" - Paul Valéry