social housing units in saint denis by atelier du pont

the facade is clad in anodized aluminium strips that act as a sunscreen, giving balconies a sense of privacy as well as making the entire volume shimmer in the natural light.

cecile azoulay edited by peter corboy May 7, 2013 2 min

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.

the 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 pont view 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 - 1 photo by luc boegly

atelier du pont detail of the anodized aluminum strips facadephoto by luc boegly

atelier du pont large outside spaces protected by the anodized stripsphoto by luc boegly

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

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

social housing units in saint denis by atelier du pont - 4 the 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 - 5 living roomphoto by luc boegly

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

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

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

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

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

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

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.