By invitation of Nexity/SAEM, STUDIONINEDOTS was awarded second place in the competition for their design of macro LOT AA in Paris, an icon for life. Their intention was to create a recognizable residential building with a luxurious appearance where, by making a smart intervention, all residents can enjoy the great qualities of the site. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Macro LOT AA is located in Rive de Billancourt in Paris, bordering the Seine. The plot is situated at the junction of the main elements of the urban plan: the old city, the new district, the Seine and Parc de Billancourt. The area of 72 hectares, located on the old site of the Renault factory, will be given a new identity. High quality architecture, valuable landscape and respect for the environment will be merged in a contemporary way. About 15,000 people will live and work here in the future. The commercial tower C1 by Jean Nouvel, the planned office tower D5 and the residential building macro LOT AA will be the three icons of Le Trapeze.
The residential building of 16,600 m2 SHON that STUDIONINEDOTS designed for this location consists of 180 apartments, a residential care facility for people with a locked-in syndrome, commercial space and a parking garage. Part of the facade is folded inward, creating a framed, quiet courtyard. By lifting this courtyard, one has fantastic views over the park and the Seine from this spot. To connect the courtyard with the surrounding semi-public space the volume is cut out at three places.
The roof is used as a continuous landscape and locates the most exclusive apartments. These dwellings, and the dwellings in the elevated volume, have views over Parc de Billancourt, the Seine and a panoramic view to the Eiffel Tower at the same time. In this way, the potential of the site is fully exploited. Because of the used materials and the eye for detail, the building gets the allure and richness of experience that fits a city like Paris.
The quality of macro-lot AA is also its limitation. The 130 meters long facade facing south to the park overlooking the Seine provides an uncomfortable courtyard. The triangular shape of the plot ensures that a relatively small inner area remains, a courtyard that is almost always in shadow.
The plinth creates an increased courtyard with beautiful views and a clear transition between the park and the garden. The high wall that continues the facade on park avenue creates this courtyard. Additional volumes are extracted from the volume to connect the courtyard with the public space and create a secure transition to the neighbors. We divided the green courtyard in different strips. Every strip gets its own program to encourage relaxation or activities and reacts differently to the underlying program.
Architect: STUDIONINEDOTS Project team: Wouter Hermans, Simon Burri, Jeffrey Bolhuis Design team: Arie van der Neut, Albert Herder, Vincent van der Klei, Metin van Zijl Collaboration: HVDN architecten, A’dam / Atelier 115 architects, Paris Location: Boulogne Billancourt, Paris Client: Nexity / SAEM Type: housing, 180 dwellings, 16.600m2 SHON Size: 4.123m2 Engineering: Jean-Marc Saurer Sustainability: Uta Ehrhard Landscape Bruno Doedens Construction: Strackee bv bouwadviesbureau Status: Invited competition, 2nd place Budget: € 30.300.000 Design: 2011
