Studio Weinand moves to the Pays d’En-Haut! In Autumn 2021 students will study the conversion of the existing Bluhm sawmill near Rossinière and how it could be adapted for robotisation. A total of seventeen students will form groups to develop and present their own vision of how the sawmill could be transformed. There are many different aspects to be taken into consideration, such as whether the existing structure should be integrated into the new design proposal, historical and ecological concerns, and site topography.
The project is linked to an ongoing collaboration between IBOIS research laboratory and the Pays d’En-Haut. Through it, students are invited to consider wood architecture from a holistic viewpoint, taking into account traditional local forestry techniques, the processing of raw timber, the possibilities or limitations of local regulations which often restrict building possibilities, and finally, the impact of the timber industry on local economies.