Futuroscope – Photovoltaic development

The main carpark for the theme park Futuroscope was an unsightly expanse of land in stark contrast to the quality of the buildings and attractions inside.

The Senator-Mayor of Poitiers and the Prefect of the Department commissioned Endurance-Energie and their associates AIM Hanemian Architects to design a radical improvement for the carpark.

It was decided to cover the whole of the carpark with solar panels. Given the extent of the surface involved, 80,000 square meters, it was necessary to give this roofing an architectural character. The parked cars would be clustered in units, each covered by a separate panel of approximately 5,000 square meters. Each panel would rise at a gentle slope to a maximum of 4 meters above the ground at the high end.

The result is that this vast expanse has acquired a dynamic architectural quality overall. The supporting material for the panels is encased in a metal framework containing the technical equipment allowing the panels always to be correctly angled independently of the layout of the parking areas. Building permission has been granted.