Location: Rennes, France.

Architect: Guinée*Potin Architects.

Guinée*Potin Architects has used untreated chestnut wood and ecological concrete colored with natural pigments for the expansion of the Eco-museum of the Rennes Region in Brittany, France. The cultural center, dedicated to the identity and artisanal traditions of the region, is surrounded by a forest and an agricultural park. The new 880 square meter volume was constructed using dry construction technologies to minimize dust production, preserve existing trees, and keep the existing exhibition structure open to the public during construction. The building features a wood skin with a graphic pattern, symbolizing the Eco-museum program and serving as a showcase for the museum. The ground floor houses the visitor reception hall, while the first floor contains administrative offices, an educational center, and a zootechnical center. The museum exhibition rooms are located in the western area and can accommodate various lighting technologies. The architects aimed to integrate the building into its natural context and selected eco-biological materials for the extension of the entrance hall and temporary exhibition, including timber framework and timber cladding. The southern side features an ecological concrete wall base tinted with natural pigments, while the timber cladding on the eastern side is made of natural wood shingles with a graphic pattern. The building is heated using heat pumps.

Photo credit: Anne-Flore Guinée.