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VALORIZATION OF THE ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE OF SAINT GÉRAUD | AURILLAC | FRANCE | 2016
Invited competition – short list

Concours pour le projet d’aménagement paysager et de mise en valeur du site et des vestiges du cloître de Saint Géraud

With João Mendes Ribeiro architect

 

The project aims to reposition the islet of Saint Géraud in the heart of the historic center of Aurillac, signaling the evolution of its former spatial organizations and highlithing the archeological remains recently discovered.The site of Saint Géraud represents the image of the city of Aurillac from distant and close points of view, being strategically located at the center of the tourist route which will link the town center to the castle. It will be a place for heritage tourism in the heart of the city, a recognition of historical and cultural aspects, as well as a place of amenity and friendliness appropriate to the inhabitants.

The islet of Saint Géraud is delimited by the southern facade of the Saint Géraud’s Abbey and by the facades of buildings of diversified characteristics that construct the perimeter inside the islet.    Therefore the project proposes to construct a reference place for The City of Aurillac of national and international recognition.The garden of the Square de Vic, in the west side, and in the proximity of the Porte du Buis, part of the disappeared medieval enclosure, located on the ancient imprint of the medieval cemetery will be the fundamental link for the enhancement of the archeological site. Together, the Abbey of Saint Géraud and the more recent church of the Sacred Family, will ensure a coherent connection with the urban spaces of the historic center.The intervention in the islet of Saint Géraud translates a spatial organization, close to the lifestile organization and atmosphere of the former abbey. This organization reproduces the vacuum inside the islet, builds plots and cultivated fields, as well as shared gardens, it resumes the passage of water and highlights the archaeological ruins that indicate the presence of the ancient cloister. The main archeological area will be protected and be able to discover, into a new structure.Sideways and paths will link the different sides and at the same time will separete the archeological core to the context provinding mobility for the contemporary urban requirements.

The reorganization of the archaeological remains of the Capitular Hall, the Column Hall, the cloister’s eastern gallery and the cloister itself, are the elements of great attractiveness on the site and must be preserved and accessible to the general public.The valorization, protection and dissemination of the archaeological remains already excavated, combined with the preservation of the unexcavated areas, determines the success of this operation.

 

PROJECT DATE 2016 (design) | CLIENT Municipality of Aurillac, France | AREA  Ha

TEAM

project design coordinator: João Gomes da Silva

team: Inês Norton, Hugo Guiomar, Stefano Serventi, Ana Pereria, Rita Rodrigues

architecture: João Mendes Ribeiro, Catarina Fortuna, Filipe Catarino, Pedro Teixeira

MEP:  Christophe Doignies – GRUET Ingenierie

Renders: Simão Botelho, Lucas Armendani, Samuel Rodrigues