Curious about where the wind meets innovation? Right here, stands the Ancienne Soufflerie. It is a testament to Gustave Eiffel’s ingenuity. This isn’t just any building. It is a historic landmark where science and imagination converge.
The Ancienne Soufflerie, or Eiffel Aerodynamic Laboratory, is over a century old. Gustave Eiffel designed it in 1912. It has remained active ever since. It is a classified historical monument. The Ancienne Soufflerie is a crucial scientific tool. Its expertise spans architecture and climate-conscious urban planning. It also helps with civil engineering and industrial aerodynamics.
Eiffel inaugurated the Ancienne Soufflerie in March 1912. This was just a month before the Titanic’s sinking. Here, Eiffel continued his research. He explored air resistance and aerodynamics. He had begun this work in 1903. The equipment was cutting-edge. Eiffel tested aircraft wing profiles and propellers. He also studied building models. He wanted to observe wind effects.
The Ancienne Soufflerie participated in studies. It was used for experiments and research. These covered architecture, urban climate, and natural ventilation. It was also used for the environment, industrial aerodynamics, and civil engineering. It helped ensure structures could withstand wind.
Originally built with wood and canvas, like early airplanes, the Ancienne Soufflerie is still relevant. Its measurement systems have evolved. Since 2001, the CSTB owns the installation. The Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment uses it to offer services. They design sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and cities. They also verify data from digital simulations. The Ancienne Soufflerie collaborates with the LABE. This is the Laboratoire Européen d’Acoustique du Bâtiment. Together they measure aero-acoustic noises.
Bertrand Delcambre of CSTB said the Ancienne Soufflerie remains active. It offers development opportunities with new measurement tools. These include physical visualizations for architectural models. They also simulate solar exposure and wind fields. The Ancienne Soufflerie makes a vital scientific contribution. Eiffel wanted to conquer the wind.
The Ancienne Soufflerie features a wooden collector. There is also a non-guided vein. A diffuser sits at the experience chamber’s exit. A fan generates airflow. The impressive collector grille is 4 meters in diameter at the entrance. It narrows to 2 meters at the experience chamber. The fan is 4 meters in diameter. It has 23 blades. This fan weighs 7 tons. It generates winds from 0 to 30 meters per second, about 110 kilometers per hour.
Eiffel first built a wind tunnel on the Champ de Mars in 1909. Paris officials deemed it unsightly. It was torn down in 1911. Eiffel, convinced of its potential for aviation, built a new lab in Auteuil. This Ancienne Soufflerie stands as a testament to his vision.
The Ancienne Soufflerie tests wind resistance. The technicians also assess smoke evacuation from buildings. For example, they studied the Tour Montparnasse roof. When the helipad became a terrace in 2011, they ensured boiler fumes would not bother visitors. They also evaluated exhaust fumes on the Norwegian Epic. This was to protect the rear terrace.
The Ancienne Soufflerie also studies natural ventilation in tropical climates. They have worked with Reunion Island architects. One project is the Musée des Eaux Douces. The building uses airflow to cool the interior. Alizés winds create air currents. This cools the double-layered walls.
The Ancienne Soufflerie’s legacy endures. It is a place where innovation meets the wind.