Preserving History: Architectural Marvel of the Archives Départementales de l'Isère

The project of the Isère Departmental Archives (ADI) consists of three components: a base, plant strata, and a storage volume. These volumes represent the raw and mineral expression of the Isère territory. The building is traversed by an internal street with two entrances. The volumetry of the Archives reflects the functional logic of the program. Four blocks of archive stores are connected by vertical glazed spaces that provide natural light, without direct sunlight, to the circulation areas used by archivists throughout the day. These imposing masses respond to the density of the program they contain and the loads they support.

The base of the building receives the conservation activities, the reception of the public, as well as the administration specific to the site. The plant stratum creates a visual and functional break, taking up the spirit of the nearby University Campus. The skin and the concrete structure of the project make the link between the geology of the limestone massifs which surround the Grenoble Plain and the industrial history of a territory which initiated the technique of moulded concrete and, today, continues research and innovation. The construction system sets up a building that is highly insulated, inert and stable in the face of climatic conditions of temperature and humidity, a strong constraint of the program.