Institute of physicsand chemistry of matter, Strasbourg

Long and monolithic, the CNRS (National Centre for Scientific Research) laboratory resolutely contrasts with the campus on which it is located, its dispersed character and the severity of its architecture.

The play of different levels for the new and the old has enabled a semi-buried road to be slipped in between the two, crossed by a wing that links them that extends the lateral face of the existing building.

An industrial finish has been chosen for this high-tech building: copper cladding, structural sealant glazing, aluminium sun screens, and stainless steel chimneys. Inside, the sectorised layout ensures a fluid communication between researchers’ offices and the various laboratories. Amply networked, the centre is a rational tool that will be able to evolve as requirements change.