French architecture studios Atelier 9.81 and Perrot Richard have completed a groundbreaking renovation of the historic Palais Rameau exhibition hall in Lille, France, installing a revolutionary modular and demountable timber frame system within the building's heritage-protected steel shell. The project represents an innovative approach to sustainable architecture that honors the past while embracing future flexibility.
The Palais Rameau holds significant historical importance, having been originally designed in 1878 by Auguste Mourcou and Henri Contamine as a dedicated space for horticultural exhibitions. The building is architecturally distinctive for its unique fusion of classical and neo-Byzantine design elements, which elegantly surround a magnificent steel-framed greenhouse structure at its center. This historic venue has now been transformed to serve modern educational needs after the city of Lille leased the building to JUNIA, the School of Science and Engineering of Lille Catholic University.
The renovation's centerpiece is an ingenious timber post-and-beam structure that has been strategically inserted into the building's existing steel framework. This modular system is designed to accommodate classrooms, workshops, laboratories, and publicly accessible exhibition and workspace areas. The architects emphasized that the timber structure is entirely demountable and highly adaptable, allowing for future reconfigurations as the school's needs evolve.
"This approach not only respects the history and soul of the place, but also meets tomorrow's requirements in terms of sustainability, efficiency and flexibility of spaces," the architectural team explained. They further noted that "an innovative and demonstrative architecture is proposed, through a modular and scalable project, designed to consider the future."
The design carefully preserves the building's grand central hall, which continues to function as a public exhibition and meeting space. This impressive area features movable furniture on wheels and is overlooked by two stories of educational facilities through full-height windows. The timber structures are strategically organized around the edges of the large central space, with partition walls designed for easy reconfiguration to meet changing institutional requirements.
Sustainability played a crucial role in material selection and construction methods. All materials for the project were sourced within a 100-kilometer radius of the site, including locally-harvested poplar wood for the timber structure. The architects explained their material choice: "Wood was an obvious choice, for reasons of respect for the building's heritage, reversibility and sobriety, as well as for its aesthetic and structural qualities. More generally, most of the materials are bio-sourced with a cradle to cradle approach."
The interior design celebrates both old and new architectural elements. Within the newly created educational spaces, the modular timber structure remains visible alongside the original green-painted steelwork of the heritage structure, creating a striking visual dialogue between past and present. Exposed conduits and ventilation ducts add to the industrial aesthetic while maintaining the building's authentic character.
The renovation maintains a meaningful connection to the building's original purpose. The research activities planned for the Palais Rameau will include investigations into new forms of agriculture and food production, continuing the historic building's legacy as a center for horticultural innovation and experimentation.
The project has gained significant recognition in the architectural community, earning a spot on the shortlist for the sustainable renovation category of the prestigious Dezeen Awards 2025. This acknowledgment reflects the project's successful balance of heritage preservation, environmental responsibility, and functional innovation. The renovation stands as an exemplary model for how historic buildings can be adapted for contemporary use while maintaining their cultural significance and architectural integrity.
