Chambord is drowning. Built on marshland in the Loire Valley to be a symbol of the French monarchy, the Chateau finally finds itself victim to the forces of climate change. Our proposal takes the flood of 2016 to an extreme – one in which the cultural heritage of Chambord is at risk of being lost. The land immediately to the Chateau is marshland, best suited to taking on and storing excess water during high water scenarios. We looked at water patterns starting from the regional level to tributaries of the Cosson. Cross sections of the site’s topography revealed a crucial point of intervention for holding and diverting water away from the Chateau and back into the Cosson. We propose a low-dam that diverts natural water run-off downstream from the castle. While a considerable part of the wall is a simple retaining wall built to resist water, a large portion - nearly one kilometer - is defined by two twisting surfaces that play against each other along the length of the project. A public path weaves through this occupiable segment of the project, providing access to the domain beyond. The two surfaces slide above and below one another to resist rising water while taking advantage of the prevalent wind and sun. From the chateau, a thin line cuts across the horizon; reflective glass abstracting the domain beyond. Our intervention will provide a unique environment while simultaneously protecting the Chateau and its valuable history.
ARCH 620 - Paris Studio | Fall 2018
Professor: John Casbarian
Project Partner: John Wilkinson
Press:
2018 AIA Fort Worth Student Design -
Honor Award Winner - LINK
2019 Chambord Inacheve
Jury Prize - LINK
2018-2019 AIA - ASCA COTE
Top Ten for Students Winner - LINK
Chambord Video
Domain Plan | Site Sections | Long Section |
---|---|---|
Section Through Entry | View of Path | Section through Wet Lab |
Path Through Bridge | Floor Plan | South Elevation |
Bioclimatic Strategies | View of Chapel | Wall Construction |
Sectional Model |