The Halle des Soufflantes, once part of the most technologically advanced steel plant in the region, stands today as a decayed bulk in the middle of Belval. Built between 1909 and 1912, the structure is made up of three halls—one (28.5 m) for dynamos, one (34.9 m) for blowers, and the middle one (9.2 m) for accessories and system management swatches—with a total volume of 270,000 m³ and a footprint of 11,520 m². The hall operated until 1997, when steel production came to an end in Belval. 
Regardless the general restfulness, the Cité des Sciences is not fulfilling the expectations it was designed for. The proof sits in the number of people present in Belval daily, considering the time spent there only for working, studying, or shopping. The unplanned, free, empty, decayed, overly-used space is lacking; there is no social condenser, while all public entities are meant for commercial uses. 

The Halle des Soufflantes is a decayed bulk that holds the capacity to allure the missing ambiance of Belval, while simultaneously responding to the demand for built space. Its size, its state of decay, and its location within the campus are often brought to the table as negative features. This project aims to reverse those adversities—transforming contextual constraints into potential qualities—through minimal intervention.