“From house to Paris”: a brand new look of the headquarters of the European House Company

Scale fashions of the Ariane 5, Ariane 6 and Vega rockets are on show within the reception corridor. The satellite tv for pc is suspended on a wire above the extensive white staircase that dominates the room. Welcome to the headquarters of the European House Company (ESA). The imposing constructing on hidden Mario-Níques (fifteenth) Avenue, on whose roof the flags of its 22 member states and people related to them are emblazoned, reopens its doorways after 5 years of main renovation and building work. We visited.
Upstairs, the primary Council of European Delegates will happen on Wednesday within the ultra-modern 650-square-metre mega-meeting corridor, earlier than the night’s official opening, the place French astronaut Thomas Pesquet is predicted to look. An progressive work instrument created rather than the outdated stereotypical desks. The partitions are detachable and might separate this house into three soundproofed rooms geared up with a simultaneous interpretation system in 9 languages.
This room, “It’s the political coronary heart,” is offered by Jan Max Boesch, Director of Inner Providers. “We’re not constructing a rocket right here, however we’ve determined,” confirms Eric Morel de Westgavier, Head Workplace Supervisor. We guarantee budgetary management and implementation of European programmes. These are science initiatives, studying about Earth and house, house exploration…”
We’re not constructing a rocket right here, however we determined.
Photos of views of Mars or the James Webb telescope adorn the partitions of places of work furnished with wood furnishings and numerous vegetation. The slogan “De l’espace à Paris” is displayed on the screens. On the bathroom indicators, a person and a lady put on an astronaut helmet.
The headquarters, which covers greater than 11,000 sq. meters, is totally new. All workers will transfer there from 11 April, leaving their non permanent places of work on rue du Général-Bertrand (VIIe).
“Being in Paris has at all times been the will of the members. Furthermore, the settlement states this. The town is related to all of Europe, and we are able to accommodate delegations with out problem. “Paris is likely one of the most important pillars of the Company,” assures the pinnacle workplace supervisor.
House expertise for urine recycling
“It’s a nice honor that Europe’s gateway to house is rooted within the fifteenth century,” rejoices Claire de Clermont-Tonnerre, Paris advisor on this division. A stone’s throw from UNESCO or the Army College (vii). »
Along with the futuristic and resilient structure by Atelier du Pont, the constructing – whose asbestos elimination, renovation and extension price €70 million, funded by 22 member states – holds three environmental certifications and has house applied sciences.
Considered one of them was developed by the European House Company, exactly: a machine to deal with “yellow water, or urine”, explains Laurent Junio, undertaking supervisor. This technique permits them to be separated into fertilizer for vegetation on the one hand and water for flushing the bathroom on the opposite. In house, this water is drinkable. “The ecological and financial system, since sending” a 1 liter bottle of water, or 1 kg, into house corresponds to an funding of 20,000 euros “, confirms a member of the European House Company.
“Opening up for Parisians”
One other novelty in these top-secret buildings (previously the Thompson Manufacturing unit), which was acquired by the European House Company in 1975, is the opening of the Astrolabe Museum in Might. “We need to supply schoolchildren a spatial expertise, specifically with interactive content material. They are going to have the ability to take themselves to the astronauts, ”continues Westgaver’s Eric Morel. House Instruments may even be on the market within the House Store.
“The purpose is to confide in Parisians,” continues the pinnacle workplace supervisor. This additionally leads to the beautification of the neighborhood. A pedestrian avenue, extra vegetarian, for the locals who supported the enterprise, it will be significant. For ESA and its residents, “It’s a brand new breakthrough,” enthused Claire de Clermont-Tonnerre.