French Archives Building Wrapped in a Dazzling Gold Shell

A renovation of the Marne departmental archives in Reims, France by Hamonic + Masson & Associés resulted in a golden annex that drastically expands archival storage space, while adding a modern face to a space geared toward the past. View Slideshow Slideshow

"The entire building is in an ochre, bronze tint that reflects the colors of the [surrounding] land," says project manager Marie-Agnès de Bailliencourt. The concrete and aluminum exterior was dyed with metallic gold pigments to achieve a luminious effect.

Image courtesy of Sergio Grazia. View Slideshow