Architects: mobile architectural office
Area: 820 m²
Photographs: Cyrille Lallement
Architects: FABIEN BRISSAUD, AURÉLIEN FERRY, LAURA CHÉRUBIN
Client: SEQUENS
City: Paris
Country: France
The residential building designed by unlisted architects in Paris has improved the urban continuity of a key street corner at the intersection of Boulevard de la Villette and Rue Pradier. The project restores architectural coherence by extending the Haussmannian rhythm of the city through a stone-clad façade that integrates into the existing urban fabric, while facing Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. The envelope combines cut Noyant stone, lime render, and hemp concrete insulation to form a breathable wall system that regulates temperature and moisture. Completed using locally sourced and prefabricated materials, the building introduces a low-carbon, resource-efficient approach that echoes traditional techniques through timber framing and natural insulation. Volumetric decisions preserve views, increase daylight, and enhance vegetation. A restrained concrete structure supports acoustics and proportion, while common spaces and soft mobility parking are integrated into the landscaped courtyard.
The project’s central challenge was to establish urban continuity at the intersection corner. The street-facing façade extends the adjacent Haussmannian building, aligning with the rhythms of Boulevard de la Villette and Rue Pradier. Facing Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, the structure asserts a presence in the wider urban landscape, reinforcing its visual role in the city’s perception.
The choice and application of materials reflect a contextual strategy. Cut stone sourced from the Paris Basin (Noyant stone) functions as a structural element, linking the new building to the existing built environment while supporting a local, low-carbon supply chain. On the courtyard side, timber framing and hemp concrete reinterpret traditional techniques. These choices are not solely historical references but represent a consistent design method prioritizing durability, construction logic, and resource efficiency.
The street façade is clad in solid stone, while the garden façade uses lime render, both supported by hemp concrete insulation. This composition forms a breathable envelope that enhances thermal comfort. The natural materials, with vapor-permeable properties, enable regulated exchanges of heat and moisture between the interior and exterior, allowing humidity to escape and minimizing temperature fluctuations. The detailing of the Noyant stone—with angled cuts and cornices—produces a thickened façade that interacts with daylight. Wooden joinery, shutters, and refined metalwork contribute a domestic yet urban character.
The volumetric strategy retains internal block proportions and views. The intervention aims to open space, increase light, and introduce greenery by planting tall trees directly into the ground. Window placements minimize direct lines of sight between units and ensure consistent daylight access. Despite the compact footprint, the interior layout emphasizes brightness, multi-orientation, and ergonomic design, with each unit accessed via landings shared by two apartments. Ground floor common areas, including the lobby and bicycle storage, open onto the garden. A lightweight wooden roof structure, embedded in the original limestone walls, accommodates soft mobility parking.
The structure combines stone, timber, and hemp concrete to limit the use of carbon-intensive materials. Concrete is restricted to floor slabs and columns, maintaining acoustic quality and keeping the building’s height within neighborhood context. Prefabricated components—stone panels, timber framing, and precast walls—allowed for a low-impact construction site that minimized disruption in a constrained urban setting.
Project Gallery
Project Location
Address: Paris, France
The location specified is intended for general reference and may denote a city or country, but it does not identify a precise address.
