Analysis of the approach and expectations from the project.

Our perception of the project is based on a tripod perspective

The site itself.
Its relation with the City of Lorient.
The Regional context.
We perceive the project rather as a search for a general concept through which we believe we could boost the development of the District of Lorient.

It is our belief that the proposed intervention site of the Submarine Base of Keroman is to be seen as an opportunity to create a new perception of the city of Lorient. Furthermore we believe the project could easily serve as a leverage for redefining the preponderant role of Lorient within the Bay of the District of Lorient and as a result boost its development.

In addition we are convinced of the importance of the use of the history of the Bay of Lorient and of Brittany as a leverage for enhancing its expansion and prosperity in the 21st century.

Analysis of the existing situation.

Even though the sea always played an important role in Lorient history, we felt that the city had been denied "sensing" the sea by its surrounding ports and arsenals. The "frontier between the city and the seashore was even accentuated by the "green barrier" which separated the city from the commercial and military ports.

As a result, the role that the city of Lorient plays in the Bay of the Lorient region does not seem to keep up with its real, actual and historical importance in the surrounding area.

The strategic position of the proposed site of intervention, the meeting point of the three rivers that forms what we call "the Lagoon of the district of Lorient, suggests that it should be the focal point around which the potential development of the city can and should be maximized.

To enable the lagoon and its scale to be perceived as such, we propose to make its center "a glass island ("Avalon" of the Celtic legend).

We would like to emphasis that the Glass Island is to be seen as a landmark which construction could be delayed until the Regional Scale is developed to its full capacity.

Accessibility to the project and movement system.

As this site interacts on a regional level, it is accessible both from the sea, the City and from the regional Highway.

The "Regional perspective" convinced us to strengthen and "clarify" the existing road infrastructure.

We diverged the main access to the site via the N465, and ended it at the main entrance to the site (at the main parking facility) in order to act as a gate to the site and to the city.

We propose to develop an urban axis that will connect the existing Maritime Terminal on one end with the Taberly Center and the Celtic Heritage Center on the other end. This boulevard acts as a connector between the residential neighborhoods and the new development area to the south.

We suggest to develop the river bank route (to be both pedestrian and motor way) in order to provide a continuous urban environment from the city Center up to the "daily active Forum" (where the coffee shops, hotels and promenades are located ) and which in addition to it being the heart of the linear movement, serves as an informal entrance to the site.

From the sea, the access to the project is through the maritime terminal located on the "Quai du pourquoi pas?" and from there to the "daily active Forum".

It is to be noted that each main function has its independent entrance. The existence of several modes of accesses permitting the flexibility of everyday use and development.

Furthermore the project makes full use of its "Fifth facade".

The linear system operates as a park on the upper level and as a museum on the underground level. The concept behind the design of the upper level form reverberates with the menhir fields that are spread through all of Brittany.

The linear space stretches between the two "centers" - The Taberly and Celtic Heritage center on the City side and the "Glass Island" of Avalon and its lagoon on the other end.

The Taberly Center, its development and its relation to the Museums.

The exposition of ships develops along the western side of the site - initiation from the Taberly Center towards the "Lagoon". This exhibition is the expression of the chronological development of the museum experience facing it (the "Pleven" being an integral part of this experience).

The eastern side is the pedestrian access which creates specific stations all along every point of the project.

Stage development and use.

We want to mention that the project programmatic functions can be executed non withstanding the execution of the others, while the design concept allows for the creation of additional functions.

Conceptual outlines.

The project is developed in two simultaneous structures:

The temporal structure
The physical structure
The temporal structure is composed of five main chronological levels:

The prehistoric period (dolmen and menhir).
The Celtic period and its legend.
The golden age of the "Compagnie des Indes".
The second world war.
The development toward the 21st Century.
The physical structure is composed of four hierarchies:

The Cosmic - Which interacts with the sky, the horizon and the nature.

The Lagoon - Rethinking of the perception of the place as a binding element of its surrounding urban events, which allows for the development of a new urban entity.
The emphasis of the understanding of the lagoon is achieved through the perception of the "Glass island" (Avalon) and the construction of the "parterre flottant" which connect from the river bank toward its center.

The City - Redefinition of the City and its identity by opening itself to the sea.

The Site itself - The "parterre flottant" serves as the infrastructure to the four dimensional regional events:
The regional dimension - The public park
The site of the Celtic festiva
The museum
The research institute

Parterre Flottant.

The parterre flottant is developed simultaneously above and below ground ("artificial topography").

Above ground

we propose a Megalith field of glass menhirs that act as light sources for the central underground spaces by day and emit light by night.

The Megalith field creates a continuous park - promenade from the shore to the center of the Lagoon. Two menhir fields rise on a rampart from the area of the main entrance (a reminder of the archaic patrimony of Brittany) to the "Daily plateau".

The Plateau covered by a membrane acts as a place for conferences, serviced by a hotel, an auditorium, restaurants and shops.

At the southern edge of the Plateau opens up a panoramic view of "the Lagoon".

Crossing to the roof of the K-3 installation, one arrives at "The Memorial".

The water-covered roof of the K-3 installation, on the edge of the Lagoon, creates a contemplative space.

Beyond the Memorial and over the pedestrian bridge, the visitor finds himself amidst a floating garden comprised of "Water Parterres" and "Glass Megaliths" - Aquarium.

The sequence constitutes an urban park - Parterre Flottant.

Below ground

We have developed a labyrinthine space. The transformation of this labytinth incorporates the existing K-1, K-2 and K-3 installations, bidding them in to a clear and complex architectural experience.

Passing through the birch grove (Mythical mother of the Celtic alphabet) one enters the main linear space of the museum which is accompanied by a chronologically arranged thematic park.

Beyond the museum, one enters the "Daily maritime activities" (housed in the K-1 and K-2 installations) arriving at the transportation center which acts as the "Daily informal entrance" to the hotel and conference facilities above.

Crossing the piazza, one can enter a polythematic museum.

Strategically located two new passages allow flexibility in the development of this museum. This enables different space allocation and sub-division.

Together the sequence constitutes the combined museum while allowing each one to function separately.

The Parterre Flottant and the combined museum are located between two poles - The Celtic HeCenter on the City side and the Oceanographic institute on the 21st Century Glass Island of Avalon.

The double pole structure reinforces the dialectical relationship of the past and present, towards the future.

Methodological note

The project is designed in order to allow for the maximum flexibility in its construction stages. This is achieved through the independent functionability of all its major functions. The fact that each major function has its own entrance strengthens this independence.

As we perceive the project as an urban design project, we feel that the first step is to redefine the urban zoning laws in order to allow the parallel development of the adjacent urban areas in order to assure coherent urban continuity .

The cornerstone of the project should begin with the adjustment of the N465 road in its ending to create a "New Gate" to the site and the City.

The Taberly Academy can be built immediately independently.

All the existing functions and users will be allowed to continue their operation throughout the development of the site.

The bunkers (especially bunker K-3) can serve as interim solutions for pilot stages of planned and optional functions.

We suggest that the building stages would be as follows:

The Museum and the thematic park
The membrane covered "Plateau" and the hotel facilities
The coastal part of the local transportation system
The Celtic heritage center
The parking and the Maritime terminal
The glass island
The importance of the transverse axe ("the urban connector") is associated with the redevelopment of the urban area to the west of the site and in our opinion should be completed in parallel with the development of the site.

We would like to emphasis that the Glass Island is to be seen as a landmark which construction could be delayed until the Regional Scale is developed to its full capacity.

The above methodology is directed towards the realization of the our regional perception of the project.