atelier zündel cristea: housing complex terrace 9

‘housing complex terrace’ by atelier zündel cristea, 2012

the urban block ‘housing complex terrace’ is built upon as an ‘uncommon walkway,’ as the artificial garden which covers a suburban train tunnel, with vegetation and residential spaces. the block is comprised essentially of space for housing and premises for businesses and activities. at this precise spot, the rer a resurfaces from underground, strongly conditioning the future architectural project. the block is within nanterre’s municipal 9th terrace, measuring around 113 meters by 21m wide. with the intention of avoiding an effect of mass, the building specifications describe procedures for the cutting and sequencing of volumes.

to these various rules of building positioning, we propose a simple response: an organization of three principal volumes stemming from a large common base structure (ground floor + 3). their dimensions in design allow the development of the maximum quantity of residential housing and activity space, equipped with double orientation. the nanterre terraces is an urban project distinguished by its character at once monumental and scenic, its public space adapting to the city’s layout, in play with the surrounding landscape. we propose an architecture that adapts to this urban and programmatic context in better assuming and responding to the project’s multiple challenges. one of the principal challenges of the project is the creation of a new identity for the neighborhood. this involves a coherent architectural expression distinguishing itself clearly from neighboring la défense.

the architectural work that we propose takes into account the general criteria of pleasure and quality of life. the challenge is to devise efficient and desirable collective residential housing, producing the most generous, accessible, and comfortable amount of space around each structure. our project entails two architectural sequences, clearly differentiated and recognizable: the first sequence is composed of “an urban building”, continuous with the multifunctional base. this building, designed in l volume, serves as the prow of the whole, expressing in this fact the project’s urban character. sharply exposed to boulevard des provinces françaises and to the noise of the rer, this urban building conveys a monolithic air, solid and reassuring. its qualities and its reassuring aspect will be determined by the rigor of its bay window design, the choice of materials for its facades, the utilization of colors resistant to blackening and urban pollution. viewed from the terraces below, the facades will play with the contrast between their clear, luminous frames and supporting brick lintel siding. the second architectural sequence is composed of “two landscaped buildings” gently positioned on the base. in their unfolding, the two landscaped buildings will be in contrast to the first sequence.

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www.zundelcrista.com

project info:

client: bouygues immobilier contractor: epadesa surface: 12 200m² consultants: bouygues bâtiment, cardonnel ingénierie environmental approach: zero energy building

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