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Simond

Headquarters and technological production facility for mountain equipment, located in the exceptional setting of Mont-Blanc.

The Simond building, a showcase of local expertise in Chamonix, combines contemporary architecture, advanced construction techniques, and pioneering industrial and office spaces. It reflects an uncompromising blend of tradition—Simond is an almost two-century-old company—and forward-thinking innovation at the heart of the world’s mountaineering cradle.

A dynamic hub for research, innovation, and production, it embodies the Manufacture’s commitment to preserving the craftsmanship behind mountain equipment.

The use of metal, both inside and outside the building, pays tribute to the company’s origins as a blacksmith workshop.

To build Simond, Patriarche overcame numerous technical challenges, from steep terrain to harsh climatic conditions. Yet the building offers pleasant views for its teams and projects a strong visual identity that captures attention with its complex, atypical forms. Simond is also designed to meet the challenges of Industry 4.0, flexibly housing manufacturing workshops alongside development, research, and product distribution offices.

Client : Simond, a Decathlon Group brand

Location : Chamonix, France

Size : 3 800 m²

Status : Delivered

Date : 2020

Key points

  • Industry 4.0 factory.
  • Complex façades and structures.
  • Nailed walls.

Environmental perfomances

  • Process energy recovery.
  • BREEAM Good.
Download the project sheet
Simond croquis

Design Intentions – Conceptual Approach

Nestled in the heart of the mountains, the project is located within a future business zone. Immediately visible from the famous Route Blanche, the site is set against the backdrop of the Mont Blanc massif, including the Aiguille du Plan, the Aiguille du Midi, and the Bossons Glacier.

The roof folds to create a striking landmark and accommodates a drop tower, marking the main entrance. The base, meanwhile, integrates the production plant.

The main volume houses the assembly workshops, office areas, and a showroom. Its perforated metal skin reflects the light of the sky and the surrounding mountains.

Intérieur Simond

Hosting Industry 4.0

The building was designed with a constant focus on constructive rationality and resource efficiency, in order to optimize the range of possible uses. Large glazed façades open up views of the surrounding environment, creating a strong connection between the building and the landscape.

On the upper floor, offices are spatially organized within a ‘common hall’ to encourage collaborative work, while on the garden level, production workshops operate under an Industry 4.0 model. This ‘productive hive’ is fully adaptable and reconfigurable to meet evolving needs.

Simond maquette
simond plan de niveaux

A space dedicated to productive activities, collaboration, and long-term flexibility.

Team

Patriarche (Architecture, Full Technical Engineering, Environmental Quality, Cost Management, BIM, Landscape)
Partner:
Duverney

Credits

Photos : ©Takuji Shimmura

Program

Industrial
Offices
Award:
SIMI Grand Prize 2020
Base de plein Air de Sainte-Foy Base de Plein Air Motion