The Porte de Vincennes area is set to evolve towards a more homogenous form of urbanism, fully integrating the presence of the ring road. With this in mind, our project for the development of blocks I1 and I2 seeks to provide an urban entity which is hybrid in its planning, but unitary in its perception and its articulation with the ring road.
Twin-speed landscape
The height distribution and design of the facades for the two developments is intended to differentiate the perception of the project according to its two main orientations. On the city side, the organisation of the spaces and their attics creates an urban frontage, restrained in height to integrate with the neighbouring outlines. From the ring road, the expression is more monumental, both in the outline of each of the units and in the articulation of their architectural elements.
Volumes in strata
To enhance the overall consistency of the development, the programmes are organised in strata of similar heights. The lower stratum corresponds to the height of the preserved warehouse and to the volume of the main sports hall. The intermediate stratum establishes a resonance between the secondary volume of the sports facility and the residence’s lower building core. The upper stratum, thinned down and backing onto the vertical circulation core, houses most of the residence’s bedrooms.
Exposed circulation routes
The project positions the two main entrances around a common forecourt. Around this common entrance the vertical circulation cores from which the horizontal circulations of both developments are deployed fan out, opposite the ring road.
Structural expression / free platforms
Constraints related to the site and issues of crossing related to the exceptional setting of this operation, naturally led us to produce, for both developments, a light structure, mostly prefabricated off site. Furthermore, the use of metal as the primary construction material enabled a particularly flexible structural design, and notably an easier treatment of the various volumetric offsets. The principles developed for the two entities thus seek to create floors free of any structural element, thereby providing great freedom for the buildings to evolve over the long term.
