A heritage that has undergone a profound transformation
In Paris, just a stone’s throw from the Jardin d’Acclimatation, the former National Museum of Folk Arts and Traditions – which has been closed since 2005 – is embarking on a new chapter. It is becoming the Maison LVMH – Arts, Talents, Patrimoine (ATP), an ambitious project led by setec bâtiment, the project manager.
Behind this change of use lies an ambitious architectural reinterpretation of the building, one that nevertheless preserves the original building’s forms and proportions, as well as the central tower’s steel framework. The major infrastructure works involved crossing a delicate underground threshold: that of the water table.
This architectural intervention has a direct impact on the geotechnical complexity of the project. For beneath the building’s apparent continuity lies a large-scale operation:
– Demolition of part of the old structure,
– Underpinning of the tower’s loads using micropiles,
– Multiple retaining walls (tensioned secant piles, Berlin-type walls, Lutetian walls, nailed walls, etc.),
– A general foundation slab designed to withstand negative pressure,
– A temporary pumping/re-infiltration system during the works.
Having been involved since the feasibility phase in 2016, the terrasol
team (Hans Pillard
, Marie Targosz
, Antoine Abboud
) supported the project throughout its duration:
– Design studies (G2 AVP then G2 PRO), exploring various development scenarios,
– Assistance during the tendering process,
– G4 supervision of works progress, alongside the Franki / Keller consortium, subcontractors to PETIT (VINCI Construction
).
On a weekly basis, terrasol monitored all geotechnical works on site, analysed the survey data and instrumentation, ensuring control of the ground in a dense and constrained urban environment. The geotechnical works are now complete and the structure of the new building is taking shape.
This project demonstrates Terrasol’s ability to support major transformation projects, where geotechnical engineering is central to the design and construction challenges: creating something new from the old, whilst respecting the heritage of the site and underground constraints.