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Street Furniture

“There was asbestos everywhere, like ash-grey snow: if a book was left on a table for a few hours and then removed, it left its negative: the roofs were often covered in a layer of powder that in the rain became sodden like a sponge, and violently slid to earth.”

- Primo Levi *
 

The asbestos mine of Balangero figures in the works of both Primo Levi and Italo Calvino.

Balangero was the largest operation of its kind in Europe - an open-pit asbestos mine. It closed in the 1980’s and in the 90’s the area was stabilized, protected from dispersion of asbestos fibres and re-vegetated using a special system for the roots of the 45,000 trees and shrubs planted.

In September 2010, an ideas competition was held for the requalification and development of the area. 18 firms applied, of whom 7 were from outside Italy. The winners are architects Area Progetti of Turin.

*“C'era amianto dappertutto, come una neve cenerina: se si lasciava per qualche ora un libro su di un tavolo, e poi lo si toglieva, se ne trovava il profilo in negativo; i tetti erano coperti da uno spesso strato di polverino, che nei giorni di pioggia si imbeveva come una spugna, e ad un tratto franava violentemente a terra.” - Primo Levi, “Il sistema periodico (nichel)”. (translation Richard Haut)

On Memorial Day 11-11-11 a new museum dedicated to the memory of the Great War will be inaugurated in the Meaux region of France. It has been design by Christophe Lab. A dramatic choice - the overtly modern Atelier Lab.

It is a museum of history and of society. It is next to the 21 metre high American Memorial, designed by Frederick William MacMonnies in 1932.

It mas made possible by the acquisition of the private collection of Jean-Pierre Verney. Exhibitions, multimedia displays, reconstructions of a French trench and no-man’s land. It is already attracting crowds - even before it has opened.

This is how I described the competition for the museum to my clients in March 2008:

First World War Museum in Meaux: new-build museum for important international collection including uniforms, daily life of troops, posters, newspapers, postcards. It should show the war in its global and human contexts. The museum is to be at the arpent Videron in Meaux and is to be of exemplary architectural and environmental standard. 6 700 m2. site 60 000 m2 with 15 000 m2 site area to be redeveloped, and which will include the new multisports centre, hotel and activities areas. 13 790 000 EUR. 3 to 4 firms to be selected, receiving 70 000 EUR.

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