The derelict grounds of the former armoury are characteristic of St. Etienne, once an important mining and manufacturing city 60 km south of Lyon. The unused factories are a centrally located part of the urban fabric. A Design Biennale has been held in this university-city since 1998; the Cité du Design, now occupying the generously scaled former factory grounds, is intended to stimulate an upswing. In addition to the spaces for the Biennale, the Ecole Supérieure d’Art et Design de Saint-Etienne (ESADSE) received new workshops and classrooms in the existing buildings. The new low-slung building sparked discussion: due to its location directly on the axis between Place d’Armes and the factory’s main building, it blocks the flow of urban space. On top of that, two neighbouring pre-war buildings were torn down. However, in combination with the tower, which is visible from a great distance, the 200-metre-long building – whose concept is clearly recognizable – constitutes a delicate filter. The steel space truss is reminiscent of the industrial architecture of factories and spans the entire space – no columns are required. The envelope is made up of equilateral triangles which are filled with eleven different modules. These filter the light, and either absorb it or transform it into energy and regulate air circulation and temperature as needed.