The main challenge of the site is to establish urban continuity at the corner of an intersection. The street-facing façade naturally extends the Haussmannian building on the corner, harmonizing with both the rhythm of Boulevard de la Villette and Rue Pradier. Viewed from the Parc des Buttes- Chaumont, the building emerges as a key feature in the urban landscape, asserting its role in the perception of the whole.

 

The choice of materials and their implementation reflects a contextual approach. The cut stone from the Paris Basin (Noyant stone) becomes a structural element of the project, creating a direct link with the existing built environment while favoring a low-carbon, local supply chain. On the courtyard side, the timber frame and hemp concrete reinterpret traditional construction techniques. These choices go beyond a mere historical reference and embody a thoughtful approach where durability, construction coherence, and resource efficiency guide the design.

 

The façade, clad in solid stone on the street side and lime render on the garden side, combined with hemp concrete insulation, forms a breathable envelope that actively contributes to the building’s and apartments’ thermal comfort. These natural materials, known for their vapor-permeable properties, promote the regulation of heat and moisture exchange between the interior and exterior, allowing humidity to escape while minimizing temperature fluctuations. The work on the Noyant stone, with its angles and cornices, emphasizes the effect of a thick façade that shifts with the daylight. Large wooden joinery, wooden shutters, and detailed metalwork give the whole its domestic and urban character.

 

The volumetric design preserves the proportions and views into the block’s interior as much as possible. The intervention seeks to open up the space, increase natural light, and enhance greenery through the planting of tall trees directly in the ground. The work on window placement limits direct lines of sight between apartments and offers good natural lighting throughout the day. Though compact, the interior layout prioritizes bright, multi-oriented, and ergonomic apartments, each served by a landing shared by two units. The ground floor common areas (lobby, bicycle storage) open onto the garden. A lightweight roof structure, supported by a wooden frame integrated into existing limestone walls, accommodates soft mobility parking.

Floor plans

The structure relies on a combination of stone, timber, and hemp concrete, significantly reducing the use of carbon-intensive materials. Concrete is limited to floor slabs and columns to ensure good acoustics and to maintain a modest building height within its surroundings. Prefabrication of construction elements (precast walls, stone, timber panels) enabled a low-nuisance construction site that respected neighbors despite the limited site space.

 

Section   engineers lm engineers (structure, envelope and environment) space-time (fluids) vpeas (economy) clarity (acoustics)   photography Cyrille Lallement Aurélien Ferry   location 18 rue pradier, paris 19th arrondissement   cost of work (excl. vat) €3 m   performance rt 2012 -20%   city of paris climate plan nf habitat hqe   area (shab) 820 m²   materials concrete - posts / slab noyant stone wood and hemp concrete frame northern pine - exterior joinery powder-coated steel - railings granito terrazzo - floor sections common pin - street-side roller shutter aluminum - courtyard-side roller shutter   architects MAO architectes Fabien Brissaud, architect Aurélien Ferry, architect Laura Chérubin, architect   12 rue Valenciennes - 75010 Paris SIREN: 753 009 604 National Architect Registration No.: S15363 Website: www.m-a-o.fr	1. Cut natural stone 2. Hard stone sill 3. Hard stone riser 4. Powder-coated metal railing 5. Northern pine joinery, light stain 6. Wood cladding 7. Wooden roller shutter
	01. Removable painted MDF cladding 02. Aluminum roller shutter 03. Hempcrete 04. White lime plaster 05. Fermacell 06. Timber frame wall 07. Powder-coated aluminum apron 08. Metal railing 09. Northern pine joinery 10. Wooden structure

01. Wooden cladding 02. Wooden roller shutter 03. Cut natural stone 04. Hard stone sill 05. Slab on pedestal 06. Gutter 07. Powder-coated metal railing 08. Northern pine joinery, light stain 09. Powder-coated aluminum apron 10. Folding railing	01. Removable painted MDF cladding 02. Guardrail mounting bracket 03. Powder-coated aluminum apron 04. Powder-coated metal guardrail 05. Northern pine joinery 06. Hempcrete 07. White lime plaster 08. Aluminum roller shutter 09. Wooden structure 10. Folding guardrail

 

Release FE Consulting, Paris