Straightforward elegance of plastically shaped buildings with ventilated facades in Paris

Four differently shaped sculptural buildings with 100 social apartments on Avenue du Maréchal Fayolle in Paris, on the edge of the Bois de Boulogne, were designed by the Japanese architectural firm SANAA. The new neighborhood, completed in October 2018 in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, reflects the character of this creative office's work and is by no means standard residential construction. The four buildings interact with each other, creating both attractive intermediate spaces and interesting sightlines. The entire development is characterized by limited expressive elements, straightforward elegance, and a blend with the landscape.

The Surrounding Landscape Has Once Again Become an Important Factor in the Creative Concept of Japanese Builders

The project was very difficult to realize – local residents objected to plans for the construction of social housing in this prestigious Parisian location right after the building permit was issued in 2009. The grand Avenue du Maréchal Fayolle on the right bank of the Seine is shaped by old, mature trees, as well as by buildings of the upper class in Haussmann style, accompanied by several embassies. After concessions from the investor (the project was reduced from the original 135 apartments to 100), construction did not begin until 2017. The grand opening in January 2019 was attended by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo.

The four four-story buildings press against each other like organically shaped bodies, and their attractive intermediate spaces between the gently undulating facades create a buffer zone, representing a transition between the city and nature. Thanks to the staggered arrangement, the internal spaces receive plenty of natural light and open up to views of the avenue or park. All the buildings are constructed on stilts. Thus, the entire development appears clearer and less massive. The architects placed gently undulating meadows between the buildings, which connect to the organic shape of the buildings and together with them contribute to the revitalization of the area.

The Creamy Plaster on the Ventilated Facade References the Stone of Parisian Facades

Even in the metropolis of Paris, the architects of SANAA remained true to their preference for simple light surfaces without color accents. The facade thus resembles a projection screen, displaying the color spectrum of daytime and nighttime, along with the shadows of surrounding trees. The protruding ventilated facade StoVentec R once again confirms that almost no other system offers as many options for designing ventilated facades with a plaster surface as StoVentec R. Moreover, its flexible load-bearing board is ideal for rounded or curved facades.

Samples of the most popular creative surface finishes of StoSignature facade plasters are easily and freely available at www.sto.cz/fasady. Just fill out a simple registration form, and the selected samples of StoSignature plaster surfaces will be sent to your address.