Ideas laboratory with solar drive

A former arms factory in the north of St.-Étienne is the location of the new design centre of the French Rhône-Alpes region. Under the direction of LIN architects, three of the factory buildings were converted into seminar rooms and workshops for the local college of design as well as into offices and guest apartments. However, the part of the “Cité du Design” that really catches the eye is a new multi-purpose building called “Platine” (= printed circuit board) by the architects, which is situated in the courtyard at the front of the former factory.