The Gallery Of Saint Maurice Cathedral in Angers
We were asked to design a contemporary gallery to protect the western portal of Angers Cathedral, where precious polychromatic sculptures from medieval (12th century) and modern (17th century) periods were recently discovered.
The uniqueness of this portal, dating from the 12th century, is represented by these multi-coloured stone relics typical of the Middle Ages, and only a new construction will be able to preserve it sustainably. Our challenge was to create a harmonious dialogue between a contemporary creation whilst preserving Middle-Age architectural heritage.
We wanted to put ourselves in the shoes of the builders of the Middle Ages and to create a regulatory framework, using compasses, thus generating the proportions which lead to unity. All this is achieved using a delicate on-site concrete precasting process — with sand and aggregates drawn from the Loire basin — shaped to the finest grain.
It liberates the structure from the heavy walls of cathedrals carved in stone, offering instead a lighter, monolithic presence. This refined technique weaves a thread between past and present, lending the building a quiet contemporaneity rooted in the long continuum of architectural history.
