The Pavillon Dufour, the south entrance aisle of the Chateau de Versailles, opened to the public on February 23, 2016. This new “front door” to the Palace of Versailles was created by the architect Dominique Perrault, and combines restoration, rehabilitation and contemporary intervention. Dominique Perrault has redesigned the entire inaugural sequence of the Château while preserving the physiognomy of the buildings (volume, proportions and dimensions).
The building is assigned to four main functions:
- the basement of the Cour des Princes for traffic and services (toilets, shop, etc.) and exit,
- the garden level for the reception, control and information of visitors,
- the 1st floor for a contemporary café,
- finally the 2nd floor for an auditorium and its ancillary equipment.
Designed by Dominique Perrault and Gaëlle Lauriot-Prévost, the auditorium nests in the sloping ceilings and is made of wood slats, a material that provides acoustics and decor. The slats are fireproofed by application of the Verniflam® PV33 intumescent system which gives the support a Euroclass B, s1-d0.
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Architects: Dominique Perrault | Gaëlle Lauriot-Prévost
Delivery of the Auditorium: July 2016
Photos: © Palace of Versailles | C. Miletus
