An interview with Mr. Michel Bernasconi, DPLG Architect and ARC+ user about the project of Manchester hospital at Charleville-Mézières.

“Testimony of a passionate computer design professional for whom ARC+ has an emotional dimension”

An Interview with Michel Bernasconi, Chief Architect of “ATELIER PAC” (www.atelierpac.fr) an architect’s office specializing in the design and realisation of sanitary and social facilities (mainly hospitals and senior homes) for over twenty years. Averaging 5 000 to 10 000 square meters per project, ATELIER PAC has participated in France’s Official Order of Architects national campaign to promote the work of architects among the French general public.

Part of France's Official Order of Architects campaign
featuring ATELIER PAC's project

The project for Charleville-Mézières hospital – “Manchester” – was granted to ATELIER PAC following a tender process in 1994. The director plan of the project is divided into three phases: First phase, 15 000 square meters (already built) is composed of a technical platform including ER, operation rooms, reanimation, and chirurgical lodging. Second and third phases of some 45 000 square meters are under construction. The forms and volumes of each and every building of the three phases were defined during the tender process and evolved alongside changes in the program as time passed. Michel Bernasconi says the “volumetric study” (perspectives, axonometric views, rendering, etc.) are not mandatory for design process and aren’t demanded by the client for debriefing meetings. “This approach is a paradox,” claims Bernasconi, “and even though we don’t have to produce those documents we create them anyway. It allows us and the client to better control the project. ARC+, with its 2D/3D bascule, enables me to create these synthesis documents in no-time”.

“A fool-proof method”

Michel Bernasconi was a bit surprised to discover that some architects had difficulties managing large scale projects with ARC+. “You can do anything with this tool, and very rapidly.” His secret?  “It’s all in the method.” As Bernasconi explains, the user should simply create a “Kit” ARC+ file, which is “the big thing - an assembly file that will contain all the elements of a given project.” Whether it’s a small villa or a 60 000 square meter hospital the method is the same. One should start working on projects with the “Kit” file, beginning with whatever elements you choose, be it a door knob or a window sill. Once the general perimeters and volumes are defined, the project is ready for detailing. The Project manager “slices” the model by selecting entities, stories or whole buildings and transforming the selection into “placed objects”. Now all segments of the project exist in separate files which are “nested” in the kit file. The architects and draftsmen can work on the files separately while the project manager controls the work in real time by refreshing the “Kit” file. While the drafting team works on the project, the project manager can use the Camera and section manager to easily create a series of plans, sections perspectives or any other document to be plotted. This powerful tool ensures all documents can be updated at all times with just a single mouse click.

“A software with a soul”

A passionate design software professional since the mid-80s, Michel Bernasconi is not only a certified architect but also a graduate of the IUT School of Mechanical Engineering and Product Design of Cachan. During his studies he met other CAD users from diverse backgrounds and sectors, learning for instance how Dassault Systems section of the Dassault group managed to design the “Rafale” Fighter-jet. “I then understood that CAD for architecture was a decade behind,” says Bernasconi.

Convinced that CAD could bring a whole new set of values to architecture, Michel Bernasconi joined ATELIER PAC in 1988, becoming one of the first architects offices to use a CAD program and to have a CAD expert. First they installed Autocad® on their machines. Later, in 1994, ATELIER PAC switched to ARC+ after consulting CAD Expert François Staudre and meeting with Alain Chaumeil of EUROSTUDIO, the biggest reseller of ARC+ in the world. Alain Chaumeil has kept in touch with Michel Bernasconi ever since. They meet on a regular basis and often work on big projects together. “For me, those work sessions are a good opportunity to learn new methods and features of the software: ARC+ resellers are always skillful and helpful architects, A genuine added value to the program.”

Michel Bernasconi has used ARC+ since. He mostly appreciates the speed and exactitude of complex calculations the software performs in a jiffy. “It’s particularly important when you work on large scale projects, you don’t want to waste precious time on internal processes,” he says. “It’s the freedom to design whatever object or element I need that makes it so powerful. You just know that ARC+ will never limit your imagination. In our business, we often need to create custom made architectural elements and it is then very important to choose the appropriate design tool.” Michel Bernasconi concludes: “It’s a CAD program, all right, but you get so easily attached to it… This software has a soul.”

Interior of one of the hospital's halls. Image made with the assistance of Alain Chaumeil of Eurostudio