Preserving and enhancing the past, the original steel framework is clad in a light, translucent envelope. The luminous porosity of this envelope, combined with its minimal weight, accentuates the sense of lightness in the historic structure. The interior layouts are kept to a limited height, ensuring unobstructed visibility of the vast, floating metallic lattice above the programmed volumes.
The new L’Aventure Michelin will be a living space, embodying lightweight, bioclimatic architecture.
The new Michelin Adventure will be a living space, with light and bioclimatic architecture.
The roof and façades allow natural light—whether diffused or direct—to permeate the space. Visitors will perceive the passage of clouds, shifts in sunlight, and temporal variations, creating an ever-changing atmosphere. The transparency of part of the roof captures solar radiation, naturally heating the interiors in winter. During heatwaves, strategically placed openings in the façades destratify the air, generating natural airflow. A rainwater recovery system is integrated into the façade, enhancing its aesthetic while directing water through ground-level channels to a storage tank, which supplies an indoor greenhouse. This greenhouse, partially accessible to the public, reinforces Michelin’s identity and extends the vegetal world of the new Catarou Park indoors.
The architecture of L’Aventure Michelin optimizes energy consumption by limiting air conditioning to essential spaces only. It is a bioclimatic design that engages with natural elements—light, vegetation, water, and air.
The scenographic journey unfolds across two distinct environments: a grand hall, referred to as the nave, hosting the first three historical sequences, and a greenhouse housing small pavilions for the final sequence, dedicated to immersive, interactive experiences focused on experimentation and the future.
Visitors are welcomed into a monumental, open nave, serving as both the reception area for L’Aventure Michelin and a transitional space to its various programs. This duty-free zone showcases the iconic pieces of the collection: the vehicles. These inventive and visually striking objects, captivating to audiences of all ages, are strategically placed to create moments of surprise and wonder, immediately drawing the visitor’s attention.
The second environment, hosting the final part of the journey, is the greenhouse, home to a forest of rubber trees. Here, the original source material is placed in dialogue with the spirit of experimentation and the materials of the future. The greenhouse, with its nurturing atmosphere, embodies care and foresight, reflecting Michelin’s commitment to innovation and sustainability.
