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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. O6A LOT Housing in Paris, France by sam architectureFebruary 18th, 2020 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: sam architecture Context The urban regeneration zone of Clichy- Batignolles covers over 133 acres of land (54 hectares). Located in the 17th Parisian precinct, it is one of the most ambitious urban projects currently led by the city. The site bears the historical signs of transportation and logistics activities, facilitated by the train lines leading to Saint Lazare train station and the close beltway. Therefore, the stakes of the project can be summarized by the single idea of designing a dense built environment for this neighborhood. Hence creating the possibility to include this isolated railway site into a very much needed urban continuity.  Image Courtesy © Schnepp Renou
 Image Courtesy © Schnepp Renou
 Image Courtesy © Schnepp Renou  Image Courtesy © Schnepp Renou The area is constructed around the Martin Luther King parc, crossing its whole length and leading to the symbolic Paris Courthouse, overlooking the northern part of the site. In this urban operation, the 6A parcel plays an essential role, located between the urbanized road Mstislav Rostropovitch to the West and the park to the East. The question of porosities and views created between the two spaces is vital to the project definition. The final volumetric design is the direct result of the rational understanding of the programmatical and site’s constraints.  Image Courtesy © Schnepp Renou  Image Courtesy © Schnepp Renou Volumes The main goal for the project is to obtain as much space and sun as possible for the outdoor playgrounds of the school and daycare center. The choice has hence been made to densify the housing areas and to exploit the legal possibilities of the site: grouping apartments into two buildings going up to 50 meters high. These two towers are on the North to South diagonal of the site, allowing a maximum amount of sun for both playgrounds. At noon, the shadow from the tower will only cover the roof of the kindergarten. Consequently, the second tower, hosting social housing, is comprised in a 7 floors volume. This building faces the parc and restricts the impact of the project onto parcel 06B, in terms of views and shadows.  Image Courtesy © Schnepp Renou  Image Courtesy © Schnepp Renou This design allows the project to create multiple views through the site. Hence participating in the alternation of 28 and 50-meter-high volumes in the neighbourhood, between parc and street. The resulting volumes are inserted into the rhythm of existing constructions around. The highest tower alternates the one from the parcel 04, facing it. Modelling the volumes this way also allows crossing views from the street to the parc.  Image Courtesy © Schnepp Renou  Image Courtesy © Schnepp Renou Materiality The issue of materials is essential to architecture, but too often only applied to facades and ornaments. This project aims to put into perspective the antagonism of many buildings: it brings into conflict on one hand structural or technical materials and on the other hand the materials being used to hide them, creating an ornamenting layer. This decorative surface is often too shallow since composed with a short life span. After that, one must consider replacing them with new ones. The project tried to break free from this fashion dependable ornaments. The idea is to underline the raw quality of the material and reveal the structure of the building.  Image Courtesy © Schnepp Renou  Image Courtesy © Schnepp Renou The choice has been made for noble structural materials, avoiding the need for a decorative layer. From the savings obtained by removing inside decoration, the structure can appear in the most noble way as possible. The beauty of materials is naturally enhanced, and their function can easily be recognized. The technical components are left visible in order to show how the building is made. For example, the choice to showcase raw concrete walls is a way to draw attention to their structural impact for the building. The main concept at work here is to aim for truth in construction. Showcasing the simplicity and transparency of the structure and technical elements of the building.  Image Courtesy © Schnepp Renou  Image Courtesy © Schnepp Renou The same idea is at work when it comes to the wooden structure of the kindergarten and the school. This structure can be perceived both from inside and outside the building. On the outside, the spirit of the wooden structure is translated into wooden cladding and frameworks of the same wood essence, French larch. These materials represent a structural necessity for the building as much as its initial look. The architect can regain control over the image of his production since it becomes virtually impossible to change the aspect of the construction without damaging its structural parts.  Image Courtesy © Schnepp Renou  Image Courtesy © Schnepp Renou About schools Both the school and the kindergarten were conceived with a common goal for the team: create as much use value as possible for spaces that could have been overlooked as secondary. A corridor can become an extra room, the antechamber of a classroom during small group activities for example. We aim to offer as much use as we can for one space, so that every room can enjoy multiple functions. This architecture aims to be adaptive and flexible on the long term.  Image Courtesy © Schnepp Renou  Image Courtesy © Schnepp Renou  Image Courtesy © Schnepp Renou  Image Courtesy © Schnepp Renou  Image Courtesy © Schnepp Renou  Image Courtesy © Schnepp Renou  Image Courtesy © Schnepp Renou  Image Courtesy © Schnepp Renou  Image Courtesy © Schnepp Renou  Image Courtesy © sam architecture  Image Courtesy © sam architecture  Image Courtesy © sam architecture
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Categories: Apartments, House, Housing Development, Residential, School |
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