Media library and cantonal archives of Valais

Sion, Switzerland

'le pli', conexion between the federal arsenal and the cantonal arsenal

Photo © yves andré

"le pli", interior space

Photo © yves andré

Architects: meier + associés architectes

Location: Rue de Lausanne, Sion, Switzerland
Year: 2016
Client: Etat du Valais
Team: direction des travaux: cagna+wenger architectes, ingénieur civil: Bisa, Ingénieur géotechnicien: BEG, ingénieur CVS: GD Climat, ingénieur électricien: Lami, ingénieur acoustique: bS Lucane, ingénieur façade: Arteco, Géomètre: Geosat, artistes: Daniel Schlaepfer et Pierre Vadi, photographe: Yves André

winner

The scheme for the planned new Sion media library has a very strong visual relationship with the surrounding architectural heritage. The character traits of the former cantonal arsenal are highlighted by enhancing the original spaces, which gain significantly in terms of natural daylight. Alongside the new addition, the interior of the federal arsenal building will also undergo modest renovation.

The contemporary element inserted between the two existing buildings provides a free-flowing link for access to both, as well as acting as the entrance point for the basement conference room. This origami-like composition of slanting and triangulated elements will provide the volume through which all routes will pass, will be seen from every viewpoint and will be on public view to the entire community.

It is entered at ground floor level, giving visitors immediate access to the lending desk, which controls and provides access to all parts of the media library, which is distributed between the two buildings. From this naturally-lit space, the eye is drawn to the staircases that ascend to the upper floors and descend to the lower level and its conference room.

The new extension is designed as a “lightbox” pierced by a series of small circular holes. The incoming natural and artificial light comes from the same source in a direct reference to the work of Alvaar Alto.

This light-filled abstract interior uses white surfaces in response to the COR-TEN steel panels of the facade. The brown/orange finish of this surface itself responds to the tones seen in the bricks, tiles, roughcast and natural stone that make up the historic fabric of the adjoining buildings.