The Turbulences FRAC Centre, Orléans Contemporary Art Building, French Architecture

The Turbulences FRAC Centre, France

Orleans Building Development – design by Jakob+MacFarlane Architectes

25 + 2 Sep 2013

FRAC Centre Opening

Design: Jakob+MacFarlane Architectes

Location: Orléans, France

The Turbulences FRAC Centre Orléans

The Regional Fund for Contemporary Art in the Centre region (FRAC Centre) opens its doors (from 14th September 2013) in a new location perfectly in tune with its missions and vocation: the diffusion of contemporary art and architecture.

photo © Jakob + MacFarlane, photographie : N. Borel

The dynamic development of the architectural extension concept from architects Jakob + MacFarlane, gave the new venue its name: The Turbulences. The programme will be heralded by the 9th ArchiLab, international architecture meeting and some thirty events associated with Orléans and in the Centre region.

photo © Jakob + MacFarlane, photographie : N. Borel

The FRAC Centre – A unique collection of architecture

The FRAC, a result of the cultural decentralisation in the 1980s, of a specific agreement between the state and the regions, who are celebrating their thirtieth anniversary this year, have become a model for the diffusion of contemporary art and regional presence. A perpetually evolving model, as evidenced by the FRAC Centre.

A collection, a laboratory, a resource, and a centre for research, as well as a site for experimentation, the Turbulences – FRAC Centre will offer another experience of art and architecture.

photos © Jakob + MacFarlane – Artiste associé Electronic Shadow, photographie : N. Borel

Its unique collection brings together contemporary art and experimental architecture from the 1950s to today. Internationally renowned, to date it includes some 15,000 architectural drawings, 800 models and 600 works by artists.

photos © Jakob + MacFarlane, photographie : N. Borel

The FRAC Centre, funded by the Centre region and the Ministry of Culture and Communication, is one of a ‘new generation’ of FRAC institutions that have already proved themselves as centres of cultural appeal. The objective is to engage dialogue between disciplines at the heart of new equipment. Its programme will join: museum collection functions and artistic experimentation, mediation and cultural activities.

image : La faille, agence ruedurepos © Colin

In this context, FRAC Centre is located at the former Subsistances militaires site in Orléans. This architectural renovation was undertaken by the Centre region, the contracting authority, in cooperation with the state – Ministry of Culture and Communication – regional office of cultural affairs (DRAC), Europe (under FEDER) and the City of Orléans.

Innovative and daring architecture

Architects Jakob + MacFarlane, managing the project, have opted for a strong physical presence. The extension, christened ‘The Turbulences,’ because of its prefabricated tubular structure covered by an anodised aluminium casing, conceptualizes dynamic architecture. Partly covered by an interactive ‘veil of light,’ produced by the associate artists Electronic Shadow, the Turbulences will be programmed in real time.

FRAC Centre Orleans

image from architects

New Features

The FRAC Centre will have new features within its 3,000 m2: a permanent gallery (370 m2) displaying the collection’s flagship works; temporary exhibition rooms approximately 1000 m2; a pedagogical workshop (180 m2); a documentation centre; a garden designed by ruedurepos (400 m2).

FRAC Centre permanent gallery displaying the collection’s flagship works:

Bernard Tschumi, Parc de la Villette, Paris, 1983-1992, collection FRAC Centre, Orléans:

photographie : Philippe Magnon

Madelon Vriesendrop, Flagrant délit, 1975, collection FRAC Centre, Orléans:

photographie : Olivier Martin-Gambier

Peter Cook (Archigram), Instant City Visits Bournemouth, 1968, collection FRAC Centre, Orléans:

photographie : Philippe Magnon

The Turbulences (370 m2), a public reception area, comprises a cafeteria, a bookshop and an auditorium. Furthermore the FRAC Centre benefits from outsourced art work reserves (1,500 m2).

FRAC Centre Galerie permanente:

André Bloc, Sculpture habitacle, 1962-1964, collection FRAC Centre, Orléans:

photographie : Philippe Magnon

SITE (James Wines), Highrise of Homes, 1981, collection FRAC Centre, Orléans:

photographie : Philippe Magnon

Architecture Principe (Claude Parent, Paul Virilio), Les Turbosites I, 1965, collection FRAC Centre, Orléans:

photographie : François Lauginie

The FRAC Centre, a research laboratory for architecture, will provide a valuable tool for developing a transdisciplinary cultural programme centred on relationships between art, architecture and design.

The Turbulences FRAC Centre Orléans

Inaugural Event – 9th ArchiLab

14 Sep 2013 – 2 Feb 2014

Created in 1999, the prerogative of this internationally renowned event is to be a true laboratory for architecture, presenting the most advanced research in terms of architectural creation on each occasion.

Daniel Widrig Studio, Tower Study No.7, 2012:

image © Daniel Widrig Studio

B+U – Herwig Baumgartner, Scott Uriu, Animated Apertures, 2012:

image © B+U,LLP

Kokkugia, Babiy Yar Memorial, 2010:

image © Kokkugia

Akihisa Hirata, Bloomberg Pavilion, 2011 :

image © Takumi Ota Photography

Curated by its founders, Marie-Ange Brayer, Director of FRAC Centre and Frédéric Migayrou, Deputy Director of the Centre Pompidou, MNAM-CCI, this new event ‘Naturaliser l’architecture’ (Naturalizing Architecture) is devoted to the interaction between digital architecture and the sciences, exploring the challenges faced in simulating the living world.

Steven Ma / Xuberance, Taiwan tower, 2010:

image © Xuberance

X_TU architects, Fresh City, 2010:

image © X_TU architects

soma, Theme pavilion Expo Yeosu, Corée du Sud, 2012:

image © soma

Today, through recourse to the most advanced digital tools, architects envisage projects which evolve according to principals similar to those found in nature. In close proximity to science, they develop a high level of proficiency in mathematics, which enables them to artificially simulate formation and growth processes unique to the kingdom of life.

The architecture is therefore designed like an organism in constant adaptation, with the ability to evolve in close interaction with the material conditions of its environment.

Cmmnwlth, Seltanica Series, Seltanica lights, 2011:

photo Paul Barbera, © Cmmwlth

Faulders Studio, GEOtube Tower, 2009:

image Courtesy of Faulders Studio

Broadly exceeding the boundaries of their practice, architects now develop a practice at the crossroads of design, computer science, engineering and biology. Conditions for production in the domain of architecture are radically redefined by this convergence, as well as by the constant evolution of the processes and tools for digital manufacturing.

ICD/ITKE University of Stuttgart, Prof.Achim Menges, ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion, 2011 :

image © ICD/ITKE University

For the first time, these new design processes which integrate the fields of robotics, nanotechnology, genetics and biotechnology are presented through research of a new generation.

servo, Aqueotrope Vivarium, 2012:

image © servo los angeles / servo Stockholm

The 9th ArchiLab is an opportunity to discover projects by 40 architects, designers and artists through interactive environments, installations and pavilions, designed specifically for the exhibition.

Curators: Marie-Ange Brayer, Frédéric Migayrou
Assistant curator: Emmanuelle Chiappone-Piriou

ArchiLab Symposiums, Orléans, France

The challenges of this exhibition will covered in two symposiums:

Architectures and Sciences: a new naturalness
24 Oct
international symposium, Scène Nationale d’Orléans
Thursday 24th October 2013, 9:30am-6pm
In partnership with the Maison de l’architecture du Centre and the Réseau des maisons de l’architecture (Maison de l’architecture network), the international symposium will bring together architects displayed as part of ArchiLab.

The Nature of the Artefact, Domaine National de Chambord
25 Oct
Friday 25th October 2013, 10am-6pm
An interdisciplinary symposium combining history of art, architecture and epistemology in the sciences from the Renaissance to digital tools.
Free entry, by reservation only.

The Turbulences FRAC Centre information received from FRAC / Jakob+MacFarlane Architectes

Jakob+Macfarlane

FRAC centre backyard garden competition, Orléans, France
Bassinet Turquin Paysage – 2nd prize design

image from landscape architects
FRAC Centre Garden