The International City of the French Language
Restoration of the Villers-Cotterêts Castle, a listed historical monument,
opened in early 2023 and welcoming 53,000 visitors that same year.
Project Stakes
Built during the Renaissance, this castle was chosen by the President of the Republic to host the International City of the French Language. Indeed, as a true symbol of our country's history, it was where all administrative acts of the kingdom were signed during Francis I's reign.
Previously in ruins, a vast restoration and development project of this listed historical monument was launched, including the construction of an impressive glass roof above the Jeu de Paume courtyard. Several challenges had to be met:
Architectural: respecting and adapting to the structure's proportions and frame geometry Heritage and cultural: integrating a uniquely geometric glass roof that bridges past and present to testify to this symbolic place's history
L’ élément suivant est une vidéo [Video] Customer testimonial - Château de Villers-Cotterêts
Key figures
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620square meters of glass roof
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35.5tons of glass
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65.6tons of steel framework
The castle:
three components
- The main building: 39.20 m by 58.95 m
- The Jeu de Paume: 44 m by 14.38 m
- The outbuildings: service wings, 76.90 m by 117.06 m
Eiffage Metal's Scope in the Project
Eiffage Metal played a key role in creating the glass roof covering the building's atrium, handling execution studies, manufacturing and implementing the metal framework, and installing the glazing.
One of the main challenges was integrating the complex, custom geometry of the glass roof, whose specificity is having a unique curvature for each glass panel, within a listed historical building. Each construction phase had to consider this constraint:
- Detailed execution studies were conducted to calculate primary structure tolerances to strictly respect the final geometry requested by the project manager and ensure the glass roof's waterproofing.
- Preparation: trial assemblies were performed to minimize issues during on-site assembly.
- Implementation: a specific methodology, based on detailed calculation notes, was developed to plan the precise sequencing of glass installation on the framework and anticipate structural behavior during all execution phases.
- Our design office's expert technical knowledge effectively supported all construction stages, anticipating potential site contingencies.
Why Eiffage Métal?
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Mastery of steel/glass multi-materials
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Proven experience
in exceptional works and listed buildings
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High level of technical expertise
in designing and manufacturing architectural glass roofs
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Integrated
design office
