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Frac-ing creates turbulence

A government funded arts and architecture programme for the French regions, patronised by the likes of Paul Virilio and Claude Parent, has built up a collection of more than 600 works, 800 models and over 15,000 architects’ drawings. Now French/New Zealand duo Jakob+MacFarlane has reconfigured a former military supply depot in the city of Orléans to create the 3000m2 FRAC Centre. Forming permanent galleries, temporary exhibition spaces, education zones and archive, the whole lot is crowned by its ‘Turbulences’- a 500m2 reception area, auditorium, public cafe and bookshop that bursts like three strange glass, steel and aluminium tubers from the inner courtyard of the original building. 

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