Shigeru Ban was selected as the winner of the international architectural competition for the new mixed-use cultural center planned for Île Seguin in Boulogne-Billancourt. The island, located on the Seine River southwest of central Paris, was home to Renault’s production plant from the 1930s until 2005.

The 36,500 m² Cité Musicale includes a large multipurpose concert hall with a capacity of up to 6,000 people, a 1,150-seat auditorium dedicated to classical music, rehearsal and recording rooms, practice spaces, as well as bars, restaurants, shops, and dedicated areas for resident musicians (Insula Orchestra and Maîtrise des Hauts de Seine). A large outdoor park serves as the entrance sequence to the complex.

The Auditorium's ovoid structure is the signature feature of the Cité Musicale. Built with pre-assembled glued-laminated timber (GLT) beams, the structure supports a glazed envelope made of hexagonal double glazing. This outer shell encloses the foyer and circulation spaces of the Auditorium, which is clad in an iridescent mosaic. The volume also supports an extensive photovoltaic sail, constructed with a steel framework. To optimize solar gain, the rotating photovoltaic sail is automated to track the sun’s movement.

T/E/S/S joined the project during the construction phase to take over site supervision, approvals, and final inspections following the previous engineering firm. The scope of work focused on façade elements, particularly the glass roof of the Auditorium, as well as the structure of the photovoltaic sail.