Discovery and science

For over a century, The jardin du Lautaret built a solid reputation in the field of alpine biology by developing synergies between science and tourism. Created in 1899 by the University of Grenoble, it combines research and public outreach by showcasing the diversity of alpine flora from mountains around the world and contributing to its conservation. The University has always carried out these missions in partnership with organizations responsible for tourism development (notably the Touring Club de France during the construction of the Chalet Mirande) and local authorities (the Hautes-Alpes General Council during the construction of the Chalet-laboratory, and the Briançonnais Community of Communes during the construction of the visitor center). Today, the Garden is both a center of excellence for research, notably with the support of the CNRS, and a major tourist attraction in the Hautes-Alpes (15,000 to 20,000 visitors per season). However, its infrastructure had become inadequate for both research and public access.

The project has equipped the site with:

• a public reception area with an exhibition hall. The first exhibition will pay tribute to Dominique Villars (1745-1814), to whom the collection of drawings, created during residencies at the Alpine Garden since 2006, is dedicated;
• an expansion of research capabilities, as the current Chalet Laboratory is now at full capacity. This laboratory, unique in the Alps, needed new space to enable the development of modern botany and ecology, integrating field science, laboratory research, and the most sophisticated modeling. This research is essential to perfect our knowledge of the mountain environment and predict the extent and consequences of climate change and agricultural practices.
• a multipurpose hall ( 80 seats) that can host conferences for the general public, classes for students and schools, as well as scientific symposiums and a planned summer school.

The building is located on the site of the ruins of the former hotel of the iconic Paris-Lyon-Méditerranée (PLM) company. It was designed by Solea Voutier et Associés (Gap), which won the architectural competition organized by the University of Grenoble (project owner) in 2013. The building permit was obtained in December 2013, after receiving approval from various government departments, in particular the Architecte des Bâtiments de France (the Lautaret site is a listed site) and the Ecrins National Park (a Nature 2000 site).

The project is financed (€2.5 million) as follows:

• Rural Excellence Cluster, PER (State): €630,000 (the "Galerie de l’Alpe au Lautaret" project was selected as part of a PER Nature Science and Tourism initiative in the Hautes-Alpes department, led by the Briançonnais Community of Municipalities. It is linked to a "Maison de la Géologie" project);
• Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region: €900,000;
• Hautes-Alpes department: €300,000;
• Briançonnais Community of Municipalities: €100,000;
• University of Grenoble: €485,000;

The CNRS has already financed scientific equipment to the tune of €340,000 in 2013 and is contributing to the scientific equipment for greenhouses currently under construction on the Grenoble campus (construction financed by the Rhône-Alpes/Envirhônalp State-Region Plant Contract).