Fondation Jérôme Seydoux - Pathé
The Fondation Jerôme Seydoux-Pathé is an organization dedicated to the preservation of Pathé’s heritage, one of cinema’s oldest companies created in 1896. With the objective of creating a purpose-built facility open to the public, RPBW was retained to design the foundation’s new headquarters on the Avenue des Gobelins in Paris’ 13th arrondissement on the site of a 19th-century disused theatre. The building houses Pathé’s archives, exhibition spaces related to cinema, and a 70-seat screening room, as well as the offices on the top two levels. The facility provides a unique venue that pays tribute to the evolution of the cinema industry through the history of one of its oldest companies.
A multi-disciplinary space dedicated to cinema
The project called for the demolition of two existing buildings that filled the interior of the block to create a more organic space that better responds to the restrictions of the site and creation of a treed garden. The original facade on the Avenue des Gobelins was restored to preserve its historic and artistic value. Decorated with sculptures by Rodin, it is not only a historic landmark, but also an iconic building for the Gobelins area. Behind the new volume clad in perforated aluminum panels distinguishes itself in form from the context while referencing the ubiquitous materiality of Paris’ zinc roofs.
Reimagining the core of the Parisian block
Just behind the facade, a new, transparent pavilion functions as the Foundation’s public entrance. Reminiscent of a greenhouse, it introduces visitors to the new, organic-shaped building that houses the Foundation’s activities. This form is determined both by the site’s limitations and requirements, in particular the need to respect distance from adjoining buildings and allow for daylight to penetrate. Our objective was to both allow natural light to penetrate into the courtyards of the adjacent buildings, to offer inhabitants views of the garden, and to create pleasant spaces for the foundation. With its curve and receding shape, it affords neighbouring buildings a clear view and provides room for an interior garden, which can be seen from the street through the transparent entry. The partially glazed form of the new building, which softly glows at night, has a discreet presence when seen from the street through and above the restored facade.
A complex form derived from the context and program generating a unique construction challenge
The shell, that floats above a transparent ground floor, is divided in two parts both in terms of functionality and structure. The lower concrete part houses the archives and exhibition spaces protected from light. The upper part, framed in a lightweight timber structure, houses the offices and meeting rooms that are flooded with natural light.
The inner block hull-like structure presented significant geometric and constructional challenges. Working closely with the engineering team and specialists in complex geometries, we avoided a triangulated form and developed solutions to build the form and design and fabricate the 7000 perforated aluminum louvers that envelop the structure.
Details on Foundation website
Project Details
Status
Client
Fondation Jérôme Seydoux - Pathé
Design
Renzo Piano Building Workshop, architects
Design Team
B. Plattner and T.Sahlmann (partner and associate in charge) with G.Bianchi (partner), A.Pachiaudi, S.Becchi, T.Kamp; S.Moreau, E.Ntourlias, O.Aubert, C.Colson, Y.Kyrkos (models)
Consultants
VP Green (structure); Arnold Walz (model 3d); Sletec (cost consultant); Inex (MEP); Tribu (sustainability); Peutz (acoustics); Cosil (Light); Leo Berellini Architecte (interiors)
