Location: Oulches la Vallée Foulon, France.

Architect: ACBS ARCHITECTES.

The Aisne Department Council has decided to renovate the Caverne du Dragon visitor center in honor of the centenary of World War I. The project includes improving the site’s safety and compliance with regulations, installing a sculpture by Haïm Kern on the terrace, reorganizing the reception, ticketing, cafeteria, and creating a new boutique space, as well as a new interpretation space for the Chemin des Dames. The proposed design is based on an analysis of visitor flows and uses a panoptic system to adapt to different types of visitors and seasonal variations in attendance. The architectural and scenographic treatment will highlight the building’s remarkable structure and the panoramic view of the former battlefields. The use of wood, metal, and felt will reference the existing installations in the cave while giving the new interpretation center a contemporary feel.

Photo credit: AC·BS Architectes, UBISCENE.