A 1980s building set at the boundary between a historic town centre and the River Seine was to be brought up to date whilst retaining the particular cachet of its location. The renovation of this 175m-long building proved extremely challenging in terms of urban planning, architecture and functionality.

The result is a contemporary yet timeless structure with increased levels of autonomy. The building makes reference to the nearby banks of the Seine and the luxurious vegetation of the Île de la Jatte by giving vertical form to the idea of an “island of green” and providing outdoor access via loggias and terraces.

The new design is achieved by the overlaying of volumes in motion and playing with the vertical rhythm of a facade whose outline all but dances along Rue Anatole France.

The “Grand Vestibule”: a huge shopwindow

Both permeable and modulable, the spacious “Grand Vestibule” on the ground floor rises two and three storeys and houses the entrance halls leading to the office space, a large co-working and restaurant zone, a lobby and a foyer.

Economy and ecology go hand in hand. Now highly compact, the various volumes are economical and optimise energy efficiency. The design of the neutral space opened up between the facades and the circulation cores provides greater flexibility, simpler spaces and long-term usability.

To give the building an emblematic feel special attention has been paid to the building envelope. Over and above any purely aesthetic considerations, it plays a significant part in the sustainability and the environmental credentials of the design. The facades take the form of three strips arranged one above the other – in classical terms: plinth, body and attic – and each comprise three floors, creating the impression of a divided building mass. Facade setbacks and overhangs reinforce this perception.

Integrated landscape and design

The landscape design follows the skewed lines of the new building, gently drawing passers-by on Rue Anatole France into the Grand Vestibule where the lines meet. The strategy is similar on the side facing the core of the block, where the form of the building frames two interior gardens.