Multi-talented ‘Projectiles’ is ready for the next 20 years

The Parisian agency Projectiles withstood the test of time. This architecture studio, led by architects Reza Azard and Daniel Mészáros and designer and scenographer Hervé Bouttet, has always kept its feet on the ground. Better still, Projectiles is looking ahead.

Located at 134 rue d'Aubervilliers, in an unusual industrial setting, Projectiles' premises catch the eye of every visitor. Established on the third floor, the agency occupies two entire floors. While one consists of an open space with offices not far from a large materials library, the second floor is a veritable workshop where a multitude of large-scale models are scattered around a grand piano. What a striking combination, who said architecture and music don't mix?

In the middle of this large room, curtains seem to hide another space. It turns out to be a music room, a real one this time, with its own set of instruments and acoustic ceiling. Didn't Goethe say, ‘Architecture is frozen music’? All the ingredients of this quote take shape at Projectiles, an agency with varied projects and multiple talents.

The trio does not claim any particular signature, let alone a favourite programme, as evidenced by a large number of projects around the world. We find them from France to Canada, in Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, the United States and Brazil. These are programmes with varied content, where the boundaries between architecture, interior design, scenography, art and design disappear. While remaining deeply rooted in their context, Projectiles' designs appeal to the imagination and draw on the implausible to achieve a certain perfection, even excellence. Let's take a look at some of their references.

Reconstruction and extension of the D-Day Museum in Arromanches-les-Bains

Everything was done to ensure that the museum was ready for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The monolith's vistas offer interesting glimpses of the English Channel, while the interior scenography focuses on facts and strives to retrace history. ‘Atelier Projectiles’, commissioned to design the first museum dedicated to the Normandy landings, has created a unique place on a unique site where architecture meets the vestiges of a bygone era. This is a setting where knowledge and transmission are in harmony with their environment.

The building, which occupies a strategic location and resembles a landscape museum, stands out for its intimate relationship with the commune of Arromanches-les-Bains. It weaves links with the surrounding landscape and offers a new interpretation of the area. The architectural language is understated. The simple, minimalist and rigorous design is characterised by a four-metre deep and eight-metre high canopy that extends along the entire length of the building and provides a separate entrance from the ‘Place du 6 Juin 1944’. The building's exoskeleton reveals the prefabricated columns, which are a nod to the modular structures of the adjacent artificial harbour. The interior of the building is marked by a 16-metre-long, 4-metre-wide longitudinal fault line that structures the flow of traffic within the museum. Upon entering, visitors walk along a footbridge that seems to float in this gigantic setting and feel immersed in a museum tour that carries them away, introduces them to new things and surprises them. In place of a car park and a building of no architectural merit, a unique museum has been created that recounts, in its own way, a fragment of history.

Fougères Architecture and Heritage Interpretation Centre

The architects at Atelier Projectiles were commissioned to design the ‘Centre d’Interprétation de l’Architecture et des Patrimoines’ (CIAP, the ‘Fougères Architecture and Heritage Interpretation Centre’), which tells the story of this Breton town. Known as La Coursive, it is a public facility located in an area dominated by the Château de Fougères on one side and other buildings of diverse architectural styles overlooking Boulevard Jacques Faucheux on the other. This complicated context gave rise to a frugal design in textured raw concrete with a deep colour that creates a dialogue with the old stone buildings that is sometimes contrasting, sometimes harmonious.

With the intervention of Atelier Projectiles in this city of art and history, the minerality seems to be renewed, initiating a new style that is as pragmatic as ever, yet antagonistic. The extension, which can be described as monolithic, stands out in the urban landscape. It is neither ostentatious nor garish, but adapts to its surroundings and blends tactfully with the neighbouring buildings. Inside, the scenography is masterful. Visitors can discover a permanent exhibition that tells the story of the town, recalls its industrial past and focuses on the life of the writer Jean Guéhenno. Similarly, several spaces are dedicated to temporary exhibitions, conferences and educational workshops. This programme is complemented by an administrative centre and a reception and service area.

Museum of the 82nd Airborne

Located in Sainte-Mère-Église, on a plot of land symbolic of the 82nd Airborne's parachute drops, with five pavilions within its grounds, the Airborne Museum is intrinsically linked to the D-Day landings of 6 June 1944. It is on this symbolic site with its naturally scenic setting that Atelier Projectiles has just completed its project to restructure the old pavilions and integrate a new building called WACO (Ed.: named after the famous gliders that were used during the invasion). The latter completes the development of the site and reinforces the educational and memorial vocation of this unique place.

The museum's identity is influenced by its environment, which determines the exterior design. The architecture takes advantage of existing elements and engages in a subtle dialogue with its surroundings. The new WACO pavilion and the reception building, positioned at the edge of the plot, enclose and enhance the walkway in the heart of the park. The architectural layout guides visitors through the various entities overlooking the neighbourhood, creating unique viewpoints. The surrounding landscape is an integral part of the museum, not only providing a backdrop for the Waco glider but also serving as a link between different eras. It is here, in this timeless setting, that visitors discover history and project themselves into the future.

The project goes beyond simply restructuring the old pavilions and creating new spaces. It is about enhancing a place, revealing a landscape and creating sequences. In Sainte-Mère-Eglise, the Airborne Museum has all the ingredients for a successful operation.

Interior design and scenography for Montblanc Haus in Hamburg

Atelier Projectiles designed the interior and scenography for the permanent exhibition and temporary exhibition at the Montblanc Haus in Hamburg, in northern Germany. Montblanc is a brand of excellence that stands out for its rich history, boldness and the expertise that surrounds it. It is a constantly evolving benchmark in the world of writing.

Who better than Atelier Projectiles could create a new spatial identity that embodies the very essence of the brand? The project, located within the Montblanc Haus, preserves the architectural work of the Nieto-Sobejano agency and creates a spatial experience in harmony with its setting. The skilfully crafted project aims to enhance the visitor experience while drawing attention to certain items from the brand. The dialogue between the different materials is skilful, and the design is in keeping with the spirit and philosophy of Montblanc. This meticulous and distinguished achievement is an experience in its own right, showcasing one of the brands that celebrates writing.

Villa Hegra Cluster, Al-‘Ula Central, Saudi Arabia

Invited to participate in the Villa Hegra competition in Al-’Ula, Saudi Arabia, Atelier Projectiles proposed a project that fits into its environment and brings out the best in it. It is a proposal that inhabits the rock, identifies with the place and stands the test of time. Working on such a site also means understanding the geology of the terrain, getting to grips with the rock, moving away from the usual French standards and slipping into the context.

Atelier Projectiles drew inspiration from Nabataean villas to create a house that opens onto the horizon. This is a place where air currents find their way and where water is omnipresent. In short, this is a residence that establishes a dialogue between the winds, the water and the petrified sand. It is a poetic piece, as much architectural as it is poetic, which remains in the agency's drawers, since it was not selected, but which adorns the annals of architecture.

Atelier Projectiles is currently enjoying great success. After completing several projects, construction is underway in France and abroad, including the restructuring, extension and interior design of the National Cowgirl Museum in Fort Worth, Texas. The awards and references are numerous. But within the studio, modesty remains the order of the day. After 20 years and a string of iconic projects, the trio is still racking its brains, coming up with relevant ideas and aiming for the top.