jean nouvel: building C1 boulogne billancourt, france

building ‘C1’ boulogne billancourt by jean nouvel image © ateliers jean nouvel

french architect jean nouvel has designed the ‘C1’ building, situated in the heart of a new quarter currently being developed on the former renault factory site at boulogne billancourt, france. the building contains about 40 000 meters squared of offices and shops. construction began in december 2008 and the project is expected to be completed by 2011.

‘horizons proposes a new way of looking at an office tower. this non tower is about stratification, about stacking, about finding reasons to invent terraces, fictitious horizons, contrasts, about revealing references, diversities, interferences with nature, a distant dialogue with saint cloud hillside. the intention is for people to feel that the place where they live or work is a specific place that is different from their neighbour’s place. horizons has been conceived in the hope that architecture can mean respecting individualities and can offer individual users small pleasures often forgotten or considered unnecessary. it is a small gesture but today opportunities for mixing work with pleasure have become rare.’ – jean nouvel

rooftop garden terrace of ‘C1’ building image © ateliers jean nouvel

rooftop terrace of ‘C1’ building image © ateliers jean nouvel

‘C1’ building image © ateliers jean nouvel

‘C1’ building image © ateliers jean nouvel

‘C1’ building image © ateliers jean nouvel

‘C1’ building image © ateliers jean nouvel

‘C1’ building, bird’s eye view of site image © ateliers jean nouvel