The buildings of the GHM foundry occupy the original site of the first blast furnace at Sommevoire, whose construction was authorised in 1836 by King Louis-Philippe. Operated by the Denizet family, the furnace was located at the confluence of the Voire and Vivoire rivers. In 1857, Antoine Durenne bought it and founded his art foundry. Most of the buildings of the present-day factory date from the middle and end of the 19th century. The moulding hall dedicated to the art foundry has remained virtually unchanged since that time. Its structure is a complex network of iron beams, supported by a succession of arched vaults.