18 Housing units along the canal in Saint-Denis
New build with renovation to create 18 housing units
DESIGN TEAM
AXK (© Pierre Audat & Associés) / BET COTEC
Photography © Loto
For this project, the architectural approach is guided by a commitment to respecting and enhancing the existing heritage while incorporating contemporary elements. The design deliberately engages with the “layers of memory”, drawing from the site’s history and its surroundings to capture its architectural essence.
This approach materializes through the thoughtful combination of materials and forms that echo pre-existing elements, reinterpreted in a modern architectural language.
A key element of this design is the plinth, whose profile follows the characteristic sawtooth roofs (sheds) of the former workshop, strong symbols of industrial architecture. This plinth forms the foundation of the façades and visually connects the old with the new.
The architectural forms and materials used are directly inspired by the industrial, artisanal, and vernacular architecture typical of the region, particularly the structures found along the canals of the Paris Basin. This reference to functional and robust constructions of the past lends aesthetic coherence to the project while anchoring it firmly in its historical context.
The layout of the volumes has been carefully designed to preserve and showcase the site’s most essential heritage while ensuring fluid circulation and clear visual perspectives. The building profiles respect the surrounding scales and are organized around a paved courtyard, which serves as the heart of the project. This courtyard, conceived as a central gathering space, fosters interaction and acts as a breathing space while structuring the site’s various functions.
The spatial design also restores a clear visual axis toward the canal’s quayside, re-establishing a visual dialogue between the project and its natural and historical environment. This transparency reclaims the site’s original openness and strengthens its connection to the surrounding landscape.
Ultimately, the project aims to create a harmonious whole at the end of the block, completing the site while maintaining its urban continuity. This subtle balance between references to the past and contemporary demands results in architecture that is both respectful and dynamic, designed to integrate sustainably within its context.
This project exemplifies how architecture can weave connections between eras, preserving a site’s identity while meeting current needs and embedding each intervention within a collective memory that looks toward the future.
Student residence in Paris XIIe
230 housing in Mantes-la-Jolie
