Vaugirard Social Housing . Paris
Christ & Gantembein . Du Besset Lyon
A large industrial block in the midst of Paris is to be densified upon the restructuring of some metro’s maintenance workshops. 104 social housing apartments sit on top of a refurbished base with workshops. The 124 m long volume blends in within the traditional Haussmannian street profile, but is enhanced by five «redents» (stepped alignments) which provide multiple orientations to the apartments. The latter are compact and efficient but combined with generous outside spaces. The façade, the sharp edges and the repetition of a single type of window are as much a reference to industrial architecture as a pragmatic answer to a limited budget.
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