Saint-Dizier’s Market Hall

Saint-Dizier has lost 30% of its population in 30 years. The town is being devitalized and needs a new dynamic to activate its urban center. This market project must be the "locomotive" that "pulls" the new momentum of the city center. The project is based on a very simple plan inspired by traditional markets but chooses to express the art of construction through “stereotomy”. Stone arches for the façades (catenary arches according to 3 proportions) and a dense, fine timber interior frame. These two techniques dialogue and unite through the expression of the curve.

The market proposes a dialogue between the contemporary architecture and the ancient center. It attempts to create a connection among the historical center, the post-war districts, the large central wasteland to be transformed and the castle’s park. This project embodies the positive intersection of our diverse skills (urban planning, patrimonial heritage, construction, etc.) and our commitment to a territorial architecture. It illustrates the contribution of cultural heritage to the design of new buildings and echoes the world of the " traditional market" in its great nobility: an authentic approach to gastronomy based on the quality of products and their traceability. This is a question of territory, short supply chains, traditions, but also innovation and our attachment to the notion of "elegant rusticity." The choices we have made in terms of spaces, operation, construction techniques, and materials are dictated by this approach.

The project conception is based on structuring constraints from soil quality, developing a unique approach led by Jean-Marc Weill, architect-engineer. The new edifice is a “bridge-building” that spans the old building’s slab. The new market hall is raised by 1 meter compared to the public space ground level. This architectural project prioritizes local resources: both material (local wood and stone) and immaterial (know-how, traditional constructive technique). The core materials are Vosges spruce for the large internal wood lattice and Meuse limestone for the four surrounding stone façades. The design creates a dialogue between two construction assemblies, each using simple components: stone arches made of rough and cut stones, and a dense wood lattice of simple spruce rafters. The stone arches harmonize with the wooden framework's rib vaults. Beyond the stone and wood, the building incorporates a metallic framework to support the green roof and a suspended floor.