Project Background
Alésia is a town established about 2,000 years ago at the location of a historical battle between Julius Caesar and the Gauls. Caesar defeated the Gauls, but the French nevertheless consider the battle to be a founding moment in their history. Indeed, both Alésia, and Vercingetorix, the Gallic leader, are staples of French history books. France is thus perhaps the only nation to begin its history by celebrating defeat rather than victory.
The historical context of the site is a battle with major significance the French people. Today a small village village retains much of its original scale and charm. The project was to create a museum and interpretive center to address both historical locations: the position of the Roman army and the French army about a mile away. Both sites are spectacular, encompassing both the hill that was fortified by the Gauls and the valley below where Caesar and his troops camped, trying to starve out Vercingetorix.
Architect’s Description
The project marks an archeological site in central France and commemorates the history of the battle between Julius Cesar and the Gauls in 52 B.C. Although all traces of the battle have been obliterated, the new museum complex recreates battlements and earthworks and provides interpretation for the area, which consists of several sites spread over a valley that contains a small medieval town.
The scheme consists of two separate but related structures. One building is a museum, located at the position of the Gauls during the siege at the top of the hill above the town. A second building is a visitors’ center located at the Roman position in the fields below the town.
The public client wanted both buildings to appear as non-obtrusive as possible in their respective contexts. The museum is built of stones, similar in look to the town buildings, but with contemporary technology, and is buried partially into the hill so that from above it appears as an extension of the landscape. Visitors may go to the roof to view the surrounding landscape from the position that the Gauls did two thousand years ago.
The interpretative center is built of wood, much as the Roman fortifications would have been at the time of the siege. The roof of the building is a garden planted with trees and grass, camouflaging the presence of the building when seen from the town above. Visitors may look onto reconstructions of the Roman battlements from the roof garden, or stroll down a path to experience the reconstitutions first-hand. A keen awareness of the surrounding landscape as it pertains to the historic battle is integral to the visitors’ experience.
The buildings relate to each other, even though they are separated by almost a kilometer. The context of the site is primarily the natural, verdant landscape of Burgundy and the medieval buildings of the town of Alise-Sainte-Reine. Therefore, the strategy suggested creating two buildings with a simple cylindrical shape and a sufficient degree of abstraction so that they can be inserted independently into their context and yet provide the 360° panoramic view required by each of the buildings. The envelopes adapt to their surroundings through materials, while the form of the buildings is de- emphasized.
By pairing the structures, committing to integrating the buildings with the landscape, and a simple round-building typology, the buildings manage to defer to the battle site while fostering a sense of respect and awe through their muted presence.
Giving maximum presence to historical events and respecting the sensitive insertion of buildings into their natural environment responds to the ambition of the project while reflecting the imperative of “modesty” demanded by archaeologists. To be both visible and invisible is the paradox and challenge of the project.
Architectural Team:
Bernard Tschumi Architects: Bernard Tschumi, Kim Starr, Joel Rutten, Adam Dayem, Jane Kim, K.J. Min, Adrien Durrmeyer, Matthew Stofen, Paula Tomisaki, Nefeli Chatzimina. Bernard Tschumi urbanistes Architectes: Bernard Tschumi, Véronique Descharrières, Rémy Cointet, Antoine Santiard, Jean-Jacques Hubert, Alice Dufourmantelle, Sarah Gould, Agnes Winiarzska, Christina Devizzi, Adrien Del Grande
Program: Interpretive Museum and Visitor’s Center for Archaeological site, featuring exhibits, an auditorium, café, museum shop, and viewing platforms, situated next to reconstructed fortifications and battlements.
Site Area: 37 hectares
Outdoor Area: 36 000 m2
Floor Area: SHON: 8,000 m2
Public Space: 2,000 m2
Galleries: 1050 m2
Maximum Building Heght: 18 m, wood screen (parapet) is 13 meters high.
Cost 22M €
Design: Competition 2002-03
Design Development 2002-08
Construction: May 2009-March 2012
Public Opening: March 2012
Timber Frame Material: Treated Larch Wood
Tree Species on Roof: Birch and Oak
