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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. 52 COUNCIL FLATS IN NANTERRE, France by Colboc Franzen & AssociésNovember 18th, 2014 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: Colboc Franzen & Associés The Hoche ecodistrict is rising from the ground on old industrial sites. It has to mediate between the scale of the Chemin-de-l’Ile park and the A14 motorway that cuts through it, and the far smaller scale of an area of detached houses dating back to the 1930s. The two plots selected for the development are a good illustration of the challenge. The housing is divided into housing blocks that are look onto public space and face the eight-storey towers between them and the motorway and a square, but in the centre of the block are houses of the same dimensions as the existing detached houses.  Image Courtesy © Cécile Septet
 Image Courtesy © Cécile Septet On Rue Germaine Tillion, there are open staircases that cut through the buildings. Aside from offering views of the inside of the blocks, these openings let sunlight into the street and provide natural aeration and ventilation to the flats’ toilets and bathrooms. Breaking up the street side of the buildings helps to recreate the varying heights of the neighbouring buildings.  Image Courtesy © Cécile Septet The flats occupy the full width of the building and open onto loggias that look out over the landscaped central garden. Optimising the layout of the apartments has made it possible to offer large main living spaces. Storerooms adjoining the loggias provide tenants with versatile extra storage space. The roofs of the smaller blocks are occupied by tops of the split-level apartments.  Image Courtesy © Cécile Septet The rationale of the design process can be observed in the details. The metal cladding, caged ladders and lamps of industrial inspiration are set off by the warmer tones of the wooden window and door frames and loggias.  Image Courtesy © Cécile Septet A built strip along the square accommodates a number of three-storey flats. Its slate-grey façade is screened by a row of trees planted in a landscaped hollow, and is studded with balconies. Here too the apartments run from one side of the building to the other, with daylight and natural ventilation entering from the heart of the block.  Image Courtesy © Cécile Septet The three-storey town houses have the most spacious dimensions of all. Their tall blocks are split to cast light into the bathrooms and onto the staircase landings. The outside of the blocks is a slate-grey colour to ensure that the plants stand out rather than the buildings. The gaps between the blocks are white to let light in and to bring life to the garden. The ground-floor roofs of the houses are generously greened to enhance the natural feel of the central court.  Image Courtesy © Cécile Septet  Image Courtesy © Cécile Septet  Image Courtesy © Cécile Septet  Image Courtesy © Cécile Septet  Image Courtesy © Cécile Septet  Image Courtesy © Cécile Septet  Image Courtesy © Cécile Septet  Image Courtesy © Cécile Septet  Image Courtesy © Cécile Septet  Image Courtesy © COLBOC FRANZEN & ASSOCIÉS  Image Courtesy © COLBOC FRANZEN & ASSOCIÉS  Image Courtesy © COLBOC FRANZEN & ASSOCIÉS
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Categories: House, Housing Development, Tower |
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