Bus shelters

The Aubettes wine cellar is an example of a structure built entirely from materials extracted on site. Naturally maintained at a temperature between 12 and 18 °C throughout the year, it is used for winemaking and the storage of a small local wine production. The pebbles recovered during excavation—deposits from the Durance River dating back to the Quaternary interglacial periods—were sifted and then mixed with fieldstones to form the foundations, the walls, and finally a 7-meter-span vault, constructed with lime mortar. Watertightness was ensured through the use of bentonite, a highly swelling clay used since Roman times. Insulation was achieved by adding clay pellets to a lean screed, stabilizing the vault and enabling it to bear loads. A rainwater harvesting system—which collects runoff from the perimeter into a small, 2 m³ cistern built into the ground—combined with natural ventilation, keeps the cellar cool during the summer. A staircase made of solid stone completes the design: it runs along the side of the vault to provide access to the upper part of the house.