podium

65 Housing Units in a New District of Nanterre

We were faced with a premise upon which, quite literally, this project had to be seated: a 12-meter-high plinth, designed by the Leclercq et Associés agency, which was to host the construction of our two buildings comprising 65 housing units.

Block A consists of 34 private sale units across 2,295 m² of floor area (distributed from levels 2 to 8 as follows: 8 one-bedroom, 13 two-bedroom, 9 three-bedroom, 2 studios, and 1 four-bedroom). Block B gathers 31 social rental units over 2,091 m² (levels 2 to 8: 7 one-bedroom, 12 two-bedroom, 8 three-bedroom, 2 four-bedroom).

Rising Elegantly Upward

However, the phrase “seating the project” is not quite right. To “reduce” the remarkable thickness of this plinth—established across the entire new district, standing no less than 12 meters high at the intersection of the new Esplanade Patrice Chéreau and Boulevard des Provinces Françaises—and to provide a new overall balance, we needed to accentuate the verticality and the necessary extension of our buildings. This required viewing this “augmented ground floor” as a stage, or rather, a true podium. Thus, the two blocks can soar and develop with remarkable height, much like champions receiving honors in full power—athletes standing tall and majestic, consecrated by the radiance of their own victories!

To underscore this primary principle, which shapes the foundation of our design, we decided to name this project “Podium.” Following this, our reflections led us to seek the right configuration for the elevations. Very quickly, our team—inspired by this vertical, slightly curved posture—engaged in developing a “form in tension,” a plan that projects a sense of elegance and finesse oriented toward the heights. Indeed, we had to refine the two buildings facing the esplanade to minimize the ground footprint as much as possible—the only way to establish a proportional relationship and harmonious connection between the housing units and the imposing plinth.

“Pinching” the North, “Expanding” the South: An Ideal Orientation

But how to achieve this balance in such a specific and constrained framework? We chose to “pinch” the facades to the North and Northeast—an initiative that felt particularly relevant as it avoids North-facing apartments, a significant asset. Conversely, the blocks “expand” to the South, offering wider orientations with various openings onto the “suspended garden”—the communal space located above the railway tracks—and also above the plinth and between the two blocks, while maintaining a minimum distance of 10 meters.

To take full advantage of this South–South/East orientation, maximum glazing is provided to benefit from optimal solar gain. Due to their privileged views over the garden atop the plinth and the garden over the RER A tunnel, all units enjoy an outdoor space in the form of a terrace or balcony.

This “pinch/expand” principle is further highlighted by the emergence of concrete parallelepipeds extending backward (South facade) and upward to form the attic on level 8 and partially at the level of the loggias on level 7.

The result is a balanced architectural language: a base formed by fully glazed retail units allowing views to penetrate, and a main white volume, composed of office activities at its base and housing on the upper elevations. The edges of this facade are maintained to create direct continuity, in full coherence with the building’s plinth.

The two-block configuration favors the creation of high-quality housing arranged around the most compact core possible. The layout of typologies and the floor plans are based on a rigorous demand for functional quality. Consequently, a majority of the units feature dual-aspect views, and sometimes even triple-aspect for the larger volumes. Favorable positioning, sunlight conditions, and privacy distances are the foundation of every apartment’s layout, regardless of size. Living spaces are oriented South or feature dual orientations, enhanced by an outdoor space (terrace/loggia).

This simultaneous action of pressure and expansion naturally leads us to establish two distinct facade expressions.

“Container” Facade / “Content” Facade

To the North, we placed a white concrete facade—smooth and flat—with a grid adapted to the construction method, pierced only by loggias. This immaculate facade can be described as the “container,” as it faces the city, enclosing the entire system with a simple appearance for the collective gaze, exposed to the exterior and the urban periphery. To preserve cohesion and harmony, the window frames are also white, with lacquered steel railings in the same color. The loggias, located at the Northeast and Northwest corners, are designed as large windows—wide openings allowing the apartments to benefit from dual orientations. The interior facade of these loggias is treated identically to the south-facing one. On the top floors, high terraces overlook the whole—a crowning element which…

“We view this ‘augmented ground floor’ as a stage, or rather, as a true podium. Thus, the two blocks are able to soar and develop with remarkable height, much like champions receiving honors in full power—athletes standing tall and majestic, consecrated by the radiance of their own victories!

This principle shapes our entire design, leading us to name the project ‘Podium.’ Following this, our reflections led us to seek the ideal configuration for the elevations. Driven by the idea of this vertical, slightly bowed posture, our team quickly engaged in developing a ‘form in tension’—a plan designed to project a sense of elegance and finesse oriented toward the heights. Indeed, we had to refine the two buildings as they meet the esplanade to minimize the ground footprint as much as possible; this was the only way to establish a balanced proportion and a harmonious relationship between the housing units and the imposing plinth.”