IN TOULOUSE, KARDHAM TO DELIVER THE NEW UNIVERSITY BUILDING FOR THE MIDI-PYRÉNÉES OBSERVATORY

A new hub for scientific collaboration

The project builds on the legacy of the major sites of the Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, from the Pic du Midi de Bigorre to the Mediterranean, to become the operational heart of scientific and academic life on campus.

It will offer researchers, students and visitors a shared, open and accessible environment dedicated to knowledge exchange and dissemination.

Spread over five levels within a clear and compact volume at the junction of the campus’s two historic building clusters, the project will accommodate, on its lower floors, spaces for exchange, conferences and documentation. These areas will host major scientific events, thesis defenses, seminars and public gatherings organized by the OMP’s institutions.

The upper levels will be dedicated to research teams and OMP services.

An open and permeable design embedded in nature

Located along the Canal du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and at the edge of a remarkable woodland area, the project sits within a site of both high landscape and scientific value.

The design challenge was to create an architecture capable of asserting a contemporary identity while respecting the spirit of the place, balancing scientific heritage, natural environment and innovation.

Kardham chose to preserve and enhance the existing vegetation, particularly the remarkable trees, which are integrated into the design of the forecourt. The building aligns with the future green corridor linking the Belin and Roche sites, contributing to the landscape continuity and ecological network of the campus.

The architecture is defined by its rigorous lines and the use of charred wood cladding, based on the Japanese Shou Sugi Ban technique. Naturally durable and maintenance-free, this material expresses the project’s commitment to constructional sobriety while ensuring seamless integration into the wooded surroundings.

At the heart of the building, a large through-gallery forms a true “interior street”. More than a circulation space, it will serve as a vibrant living area, hosting scientific conferences, symposia and events, as well as key academic moments such as thesis defenses in a dedicated hall.

A resource hub for knowledge and exchange

The building will also include a university library designed as a resource space for students, researchers and doctoral candidates. Open to both the landscape and the interior street, it will offer a calm and luminous working environment, fostering both concentration and interaction.

By articulating public spaces, research areas, a library, a thesis hall and meeting zones, the project creates a generous continuity between interior and exterior, between scientific heritage and natural landscape.

The Cœur OMP thus becomes a true collective space where generations meet, knowledge is transmitted and the science of tomorrow is shaped on a daily basis.

Building on an occupied site: a technical and human challenge

The Belin campus remains an active scientific site, requiring construction to be carried out without disrupting ongoing activities.

To meet this challenge, Kardham relies on off-site construction, an area in which the group has recognized expertise. The project involves a high level of prefabrication of structural components—low-carbon concrete, floors and timber-frame façades—manufactured off-site under controlled conditions and assembled on-site.

This approach reduces disturbances, shortens the construction timeline (estimated at 15 months), and ensures high-quality execution. It reflects Kardham’s philosophy: using technical innovation to serve architectural quality, user comfort and environmental performance, while maintaining cost efficiency.

A frugal and demonstrative approach

The building aligns with the French RE2020 environmental regulation and targets the 2025 thresholds. It features a low-carbon concrete post-and-beam structure combined with high-performance timber-frame façades, ensuring excellent thermal insulation and controlled energy losses.

Extensively green roofs contribute to thermal regulation and biodiversity, while photovoltaic panels generate part of the building’s energy needs. Rainwater is managed through natural infiltration systems, including landscaped swales and permeable surfaces.

Outdoor areas, freed from parking, are returned to vegetation: meadows, undergrowth planting and a tree-lined forecourt create a smooth transition between built environment and forest.

Supporting evolving ways of working

The workspaces have been designed to support the evolution of scientific practices, with modular layouts accommodating teams of varying sizes, flexible meeting rooms, and environments that balance individual focus with collaborative work.