This small project on the outskirts of the village of Cons-Sainte-Colombe perfectly illustrates our philosophy. We were asked to refurbish the ruins of ancient kilns used for the artisanal production of lime until the start of the 20th century.

In response to the request of the departmental archaeologist to turn the site into a small eco-museum, we proposed a contemporary plan that was representative of our approach while also delicately integrating the ruin. It recounts the history of the place while exploiting the outstanding qualities of the site to provide a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains.

There is no boundary between creation and the restoration of ancient constructions, between heritage and its contemporary projection.

The materials used come directly from the surrounding area. They are principally the crushed stone from the nearby quarry that was used to feed the kilns, and fir wood from the encircling forests.

Inside, a conical parapet evokes the brick lining in the combustion chambers, while a glass floor allows visitors to see the residue left by the last batch fired before the kilns ceased operation. At the base of the mouth of each of the two kilns, circular glass panels inserted in the covering indicate the natural pathway of the smoke and combustion gases.

The project won the Rhone-Alpes heritage prize in 2006.

Location
Cons-Sainte-Colombe

Project type
Contemporary extension

Program
Culture

Project owner
Municipality of
Cons-Sainte-Colombe

Team
Chatillon Architectes

Budget
€ 120,000 excl. VAT

Timeline
2004-2006

Awards
Rhone-Alpes
heritage prize, 2006