Schiltigheim is the third largest town in the Bas-Rhin département (eastern France) in terms of population, and is the most densely populated town in the Strasbourg metropolis. It developed in the nineteenth century, centred on brewing and related industrial activities. These activities declined in the late twentieth century, leaving much industrial land lying waste. The rehabilitation of the butchers’ cooperative is part of a process initiated by the municipality with the aim of regenerating the town’s urban fabric. The place was originally a distillery, before becoming a butchers’ cooperative, and had been taken over by the municipal authorities, who had turned it into an exhibition area for young artists and a place for drama performances. When the venue ceased to meet the safety standards in force, it was closed to the public — for a decade. The substantial rehabilitation project deals with the building in two ways: the emblematic site in the heart of the historic centre of the town has been given a new lease of life, while its heritage and architectural integrity have been preserved. Its mixed programme and the through passage it creates confers on it the status of a public space, accommodating a market, places for shopkeepers, an exhibition area, and a creative workshop.

This new art centre and covered market is set within an exemplary built context, comprising strips of land and remarkable examples of vernacular architecture. While affirming its contemporary dimension, it highlights the constructional and aesthetic qualities of the existing buildings on the site. In doing so, it returns to a process that has characterised the formation of our built heritage — stratification. The transparency of the bay windows contrasts with the material opacity of the wood-framed houses. It thrusts itself upwards, providing shelter for the summer bar, which really extends the exhibition area outdoors. This generous arrangement confers institutional status on the cultural centre, which is intended above all to serve as a place where all can gather and talk. On the inside, the architecture and the scenography are used to promote spatial polyvalence by proposing efficient internal functioning and modulable light. Here, the exhibition area attains it universal ideal, becoming a single space with multiple uses.

Client : Ville de Schiltigheim

Architects : Dominique Coulon & associés
Dominique Coulon, Steve Letho Duclos
Architect assistant : Guillaume Wittmann, Mathilde Blum, Diego Bastos-Romero
Construction site supervision : Steve Letho Duclos

Engineers and consultants :
Structural Engineer : Batiserf Ingénierie
Electrical Engineer : BET G.Jost
Mechanical Plumbing Engineer : Solares Bauen
Cost Estimator : E3 économie

Program : Covered market, exhibition area, café, convivial place, ticket office, administrative area
Address : 17 rue principale 67300 Schiltigheim / Google Maps location : 48.60653, 7.75225

Surface : 2100 sq. m.
Budget : 3 600 000 € H.T

Schedule :
Competition : May 2014
Plans and technical phases : from September 2014 to June 2015
Construction : from December 2015 to Octobrer 2018

Construction companies :
Structure (ALBIZZATI), Charpente (ERTCM), Exterior joinery – Professional stands (HUNSINGER),
Interior joinery (VOLLMER), plastering (GEISTEL), Metal works (HELLUY)

Photography : Eugeni Pons, David Romero-Uzeda