berranger and vincent: arsenic and old lace homes for the elderly

‘arsenic and old lace- homes for the elderly’ by berranger and vincent, montbert, france image ©

all images courtesy of berranger and vincent

named after an 1940’s play-turned-film, the elderly housing complex ‘arsenic and old lace’ by french firm berranger and vincent uses the narrative of the dark comedy to create a group of dwellings centered around creating the ambiance of a veritable neighborhood. although the original film stars cary grant as a man whose elderly aunts have taken on the ‘charitable’ habit of ending the lives of lonely bachelors, the homes seek to reconstruct a piece of a town that fosters friendly connections and common spaces. the houses are organized by a large central courtyard aimed at facilitating meetings, but additionally makes way for a terraced spaces and continuous paths. the triangular plot allows the homes to be oriented according to lines of sight– views of the nearby town, belltower and waterfront weave the wood-clad hamlet of homes into the fabric of the city.

‘arsenic and old lace- homes for the elderly’ by berranger and vincent, montbert, france image © berranger and vincent

view of the glazed entryway of the wood-clad home image © berranger and vincent

image © berranger and vincent

interior view shows a light-filled, friendly spaceimage © stephane chalmeau

kitchen view image © stephane chalmeau

one of the rooms image © stephane chalmeau

model views image © berranger and vincent

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project info:

type: logements individuels groupésstate: réaliséyear: 2012city: montbertclient: public-habitat 44area: 415m2 shondelivery: missions de base+opc+thpe (rt 2005-22%)