THE TRANSECT
The site given for this apartment building was an intersting one in that, one side has the typical small, intimate, traditional Parisian streets and facades whereas the other side is spacious and open, fronted by the Canal de L’Ourq. The area also has a strong industrial heritage from a heating plant which used to be on the site. Also from the Canal, a historic pump house on the site and a railway, le Petite Ceinture, which played roles in the industry of the district. We decided to show this transition in our building by varying the aesthetics and program across the site. The streetside is of the more conservative building tradition of Paris whereas the Canal side is experimental, strucutural and open.
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On the Canal side, the building evolves into arms which are lifted 25’ above grade to create ample public space underneath. It is supported by a diagrid cage of hollow section steel members held up on three rectangular trusses, one under each arm, which also function as circulation cores. Residents come up a grand staircase at the trunk of the branching arms onto the 3rd floor which features a wide concourse that traverses the arms. this leads into various smaller walkup circulation cores which allow apartments to extend from facade to facade.
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In acknowledgement of the history of the site and the 19th district of Paris, in which it is located, we integrated the Canal Center for Industrial Architecture and Design (CCIAD) underneath the building as a place to display and learn about the design history of the Canal.
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