MINE Digital Practices and Multi-Use Space by Guillaume Ramillien Architecture

A New Civic Landmark for Digital Innovation in Venarey-les-Laumes

Located directly across from the train station in Venarey-les-Laumes, France, the MINE Digital Practices and Multi-Use Space (Maison de l'Innovation Numérique et Écologique) emerges as a striking public building designed to promote digital literacy, ecological innovation, and local craftsmanship. Developed by Guillaume Ramillien Architecture, this 695 m² project completed in 2024 acts as a vibrant hub for education, creativity, and community engagement.

The building’s unusual prismatic geometry immediately draws attention. Its ground floor serves as an open, transparent interface with the city, inviting residents into a shared space for digital exploration. Above, the façade transitions into a dramatic envelope of charred shou sugi ban wood, forming a sculptural “cookie-cutter” light-filtering mass with expansive openings framing the surrounding landscape.

Bioclimatic Architecture Rooted in Local Resources

Harnessing Natural Systems for Energy Efficiency

The design is anchored in a bioclimatic approach, making strategic use of local environmental assets—sun, wind, soil, and water. Photovoltaic panels installed on the roof help power building systems, reducing operational energy consumption. A generous roof slope manages rainwater, guiding it toward a small garden that enriches the site’s biodiversity.

Large, strategically positioned windows enable natural ventilation, while the dark cladding provides solar protection, ensuring comfortable indoor environments year-round. This interplay of passive and active strategies reinforces the building’s identity as a center for ecological innovation.

Timber at Every Scale: From Structural System to Artisanal Craft

Industrial Precision Meets Handcrafted Authenticity

Neighboring the heavily forested regions of Morvan and Châtillonnais, the project places wood at the heart of its construction logic. All structural elements are timber-based, featuring a solid post-and-beam framework paired with monolithic cross-laminated timber (CLT) bracing walls. These digitally prefabricated components integrate semicircular openings that echo the geometric rhythm of the façade.

In contrast to the engineered precision of CLT, the architects also highlight the region’s traditional woodcraft. Hand-carved oak posts sourced from nearby forests introduce a tactile, artisanal dimension, grounding the building in its local heritage.

Circularity and Material Reuse

The project incorporates reuse and circular construction principles, including the repurposing of ashlar stone blocks from former structures on the site. These materials now shape the forecourt, reinforcing a continuity of place and history while reducing environmental impact.

A Multifunctional Civic Space for the Future

The MINE Digital Practices and Multi-Use Space stands as a forward-thinking civic building that blends technological innovation, sustainable design, and community-oriented architecture. Through creative use of timber, responsible resource management, and a distinctive architectural language, Guillaume Ramillien Architecture has created a resilient public space that celebrates both digital futures and local traditions.

All photographs are works of Charly Broyez, François Baudry