Housing, Paris

The development of Paris by Baron Haussmann in the 19th century was made possible by the annexation of a number of districts on the outskirts of the French capital. In some areas, the remnants of this rural past can still be seen in the street names, in the long and narrow plots reminiscent of land formerly used to grow vegetables, and in the open 'village' architecture. The current revitalization of this working class area is an example of the City of Paris's policy of preserving this urban landscape while also constructing social housing.

The 20th arrondissement of Paris, which was partially demolished during the 1960s, provides a highly picturesque setting for this particular housing project, designed by Édouard François. The demolition of warehouses and slum dwellings opened up two large plots that extended from Rue de Terre Neuve to Rue des Vignoles. However, a few small buildings were preserved and restored, providing links with the past and points of reference for the new buildings.

Based on the traditional long courtyards found in this district, François has created an urban feel and rebuilt two passages connecting the two streets. The entrance takes the visitor on a zigzag route through a greenhouse that evokes the area's horticultural past and also acts as a hall, cycle storage and mailbox area. The two laneways are lined on one side with dwellings that resemble a line of individual houses with different heights, roofs and materials, and on the other side by a more uniform, linear four-storey building with projecting balconies. An external concrete stairway spans the facade, providing access to the upper floors. The 7700 m² complex contains 100 apartments, twelve artist's studios, three shops and 52 parking spaces. Despite this apparent density, the buildings fit in well with the diverse character of the district because of their size and architecture. The overall style is both low-tech and vernacular with a varied use of materials such as wood, tiles (used as cladding for both roofs and facades) zinc, copper, render and concrete. The courtyards are narrow, but this too contributes to the feeling of friendly proximity in the style of an 'urban hamlet'.

The project will be enhanced by vegetation, with dozens of wisteria and clematis set to be planted around the central building at the bases of huge wooden posts that resemble scaffolding. This abundant vegetation is intended to disguise the size of the main building and thus facilitate its integration.

This new project by François is consistent with his style, which includes the archetypes of popular and vernacular architecture, while his use of materials and of vegetation (as a material in its own right) reinforces its picturesque quality. The whole project is very striking, telling a story of the former rural villages and constantly pushing the boundaries of decoration without ever descending into the fairytale realms of Amélie.