Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris - France

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Condair DL

Precise humidity protects millions of books at Bibliothèque Nationale de France

As one of the most recognisable and symbolically powerful architectural landmarks of contemporary Paris, the Bibliothèque nationale de France (Site François-Mitterrand) sets new standards in cultural design, monumental scale and preservation of knowledge. Condair is proud to contribute to this visionary institution with advanced hybrid humidification solutions that protect priceless collections, ensure visitor comfort and guarantee energy-efficient climate control.

Preserving millions of books, manuscripts, maps and artefacts demands rigorously stable climatic conditions. Optimal relative humidity – crucial for preventing damage to paper, bindings and other organic materials – is reliably maintained by Condair MK5, resistive steam humidifier.

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The Bibliothèque Nationale de France

Located on the left bank of the Seine in the 13th arrondissement of Paris, the Bibliothèque nationale de France – Site François-Mitterrand (also known as Tolbiac) is the modern main site of France’s national library. Officially inaugurated in 1996, the complex was personally launched by President François Mitterrand in 1988 as one of his Grands Projets. Designed by architect Dominique Perrault, its striking appearance is defined by four 79-metre-high L-shaped glass towers at the corners of a vast rectangular podium – towers deliberately shaped like open books, creating an unmistakable silhouette on the Paris skyline.

The 60,000 m² podium encloses a tranquil sunken garden of 12,000 m² planted with 150 mature pine trees – a hidden forest in the heart of the city that is opened to the public only one afternoon each year. Beneath the podium lie 395 km of shelves in vast reading rooms and high-density storage areas capable of holding more than 20 million volumes.

Technically groundbreaking, the library features Europe’s largest automated book-conveyor system: 6.6 km of conveyor belts and 300 self-driving transport containers that deliver requested items from the stores to the reading rooms in minutes.

The Condair DL is the next generation of the Condair Dual2—the world's most successful system for adiabatic humidification. Its hygienic credentials have proven successful in practice and were verified and certified by independent organizations with public responsibility.

Hybrid humidification relies exclusively on the advantages of atomization and evaporation. This results in the sustainable resolution of key problems which can emerge when these technologies are used in isolation. The humidification system is therefore the first choice in terms of hygiene, energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Condair in action

Projects and references

Cambridge University, UK

The University of Cambridge was founded in 1209 and is the world's third-oldest university in continous operation. The university includes 31 semi-autonomous constituent colleges and over 150 academic departments, faculties, and other institutions organised into six schools. Condair humidification systems are used in many buildings at The University of Cambridge across research, healthcare and heritage areas, as well as for animal and human health purposes.

University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1582, is the sixth oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's ancient universities. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city of Edinburgh, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university.Condair is proud to be supporting the University of Edinburgh across various facilities with electric steam and evaporative humidifiers.

Royal Albert Hall

The Royal Albert Hall is probably the best-known concert building in Great Britain. Aronud two million guests a year enjoy acoustic cultural delights ranging from rock to classical music. Condair steam humidifiers ensure a perfect humidity in the organ chamber so that wooden parts maintain their integrity and shape, and move over each other perfectly, as they were designed to do.

Royal Albert Hall