Designed by ANMA to act as a natural machine, the new headquarters of the Ministry of Defense, located in southwestern Paris, includes a health center, restaurants, media and sport centers as well as a crèche. This complex structure, designed around the strictest security requirements, is the largest public building to be built in France for 20 years. The structure aims to present an image of the armed forces, not only as a protective force, but a strong and stately force as well. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The building’s façade alternates between both transparency and opacity via horizontal slat work, providing both intimacy and transparency. The wings of the building are built on stilts surrounding internal courtyards under a vast origami-like roof made of angular sections. The project will bring together all of the main bodies of the French armed forces ( Army, Air force, Navy) on one site.
