The coated and curved façade of the building, located at the corner of the Ridder and Vercingétorix streets in Paris 14th arrondissement, marks the era during which it was designed. Its refurbishment gives it a more contemporary aspect, anchoring it in its time; While recalling the codes of a typical Parisian architecture and also allowing it to impose itself in its street, in its environment. The orange coating has been replaced by a strong grey brick, the tone of which changes according to the sun.
The very narrow plot has led to a very strict optimisation of the project, and the conservation of a large part of the existing structure. All these constraints have given rise to a sharp project, rigorously designed and executed.
The choice of a mineral facade made of grey bricks was followed to give a visual strength to the building but also to ensure its durability by using a noble material already existing in its environment.
In order to respect the minimum separation distances, and to optimise the narrow plot, the building has been raised by three additional levels of apartments above the six existing levels, thus freeing large terraces around the common living rooms.
At the corner of the Ridder and Vercingétorix streets, the building is characterised by a beveled edge and thus draws an elegant prow in which are housed common living rooms with wide bays.
At the top of the building, this same angle is treated as a reversed-curve and produces an architectural landmark recognisable from afar, as well as two frames of windows, moving forward slightly to startle the northern façade, which were inspired by the architectures of the great Parisian avenues of the 20th Century.
The proportions of the windows and their layout have been redesigned to display a regular rhythm of bays. This gives the building a clearer and more powerful presence in its location, in order to allow it to reconnect itself with its surroundings and gives it a more Parisian appearance.
The place consists of private apartments and a shared apartment for young women, thus combining for the first time two types of public to create a positive interaction.
The design of the programme, the responses to the needs of future users, were enacted by consulting the inhabitants of other similar shelters to ensure the quality of use of the residence.
The accommodations are associated with common and shared premises; kitchen, dining room, offices, living rooms, children's spaces, and a laundromat, all furnished by an interior designer. The creation of additional windows to the original project made it possible to light up each dwelling as much as possible.