situated at a meeting point of two contrasting urban environments in saint-denis, france is a 32-unit social housing project by atelier du pont. to the west is the rue de la légion d’honneur (a very busy shopping street that leads to a basilica) and the new porte de paris neighbourhood; where public amenities rub shoulders with other social and commercial activities. conceived with the two characteristically distinct areas in mind, the residential property forms a gentle transition from one to the other. 

 atelier du pontthe building is located at the meeting point of two contrasting urban environmentsimage by luc boeglyall images courtesy of atelier du pont

 

 

situated on the corner of two intersecting streets, the unusually shaped building rises to a point from a base that is aligned with adjacent structures. the façade is clad in anodized aluminium strips that act as a sun screen, giving balconies a sense of privacy as well as making the entire volume shimmer in the natural light. the outline of its architecture stands out from the rest of the city block–a landmark site which marks the entrance into the urban quarter.

atelier du pontview from the rue gabriel péri towards the new porte de paris neighbourhoodphoto by luc boegly 

social housing units in saint denis by atelier du pont - 1photo by luc boegly

atelier du pontdetail of the anodized aluminum strips facadephoto by luc boegly

atelier du pontlarge outside spaces protected by the anodized stripsphoto by luc boegly

social housing units in saint denis by atelier du pont - 2photo by luc boegly

social housing units in saint denis by atelier du pont - 3detail of the facade which also acts as a sun screenphoto by luc boegly

social housing units in saint denis by atelier du pont - 4the architecture of the new building has been conceived to gently transition into the surroundingsphoto by luc boegly 

social housing units in saint denis by atelier du pont - 5living roomphoto by luc boegly

social housing units in saint denis by atelier du pont - 6kitchen-cum-living room open on both sidesphoto by luc boegly 

social housing units in saint denis by atelier du pont - 7communal areasphoto by luc boegly 

social housing units in saint denis by atelier du pont - 8night viewphoto by luc boegly

social housing units in saint denis by atelier du pont - 9photo by luc boegly

social housing units in saint denis by atelier du pont - 10night view from the streetphoto by luc boegly 

social housing units in saint denis by atelier du pont - 11photo by luc boegly

 

 

 project info:

 

program: 32 social housing units and a commercial premisessite: 2,815 m² (net)cost: €4,400,000 (pre-tax)client/contractor: PLAINE COMMUNE HABITAT; betom, engineering; apterre, environment; RPO, financial managementcity: saint-denis, franceyear: 2013

 

 

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