Herzog & de Meuron
Competition
1996
Project
1997–1998
Realization
1999–2000

Two distinct urban situations characterize the housing project in the 14th arrondissement of Paris: on one hand, the blocks facing the Rue des Suisses and the Rue Jonquoy and on the other, the courtyard with high fire walls at the back (îlot).

Our two apartment buildings on Rue des Suisses and the Rue Jonquoy are incorporated in the frontage, typical of housing blocks in many Parisian arrondissements. Verticals characterize the overall design of the relatively homogeneous façades of the adjacent buildings. As in most Parisian quarters of the 19th century, the street thus conveys certain elegance despite the fact that the individual buildings are not particularly attractive. Our two apartment buildings with their folded frontage and folding shutters fit seamlessly into the vertical arrangement of the frontage. The folding shutters can be adjusted individually by tenants so that, in spite of the targeted homogeneity of the façades, the overall impression of their appearance varies. As in the neighboring buildings, the flats are accessed via a central staircase, with a concierge checking the entrance on the Rue des Suisses.

The situation in the courtyard in the back was entirely different, because there were no predetermined urban specifications to use as a typological basis for the project. How should one go about planning the flats? What city-planning strategies should be pursued? What kind of buildings, what kind of architecture should be placed there?

We tried to realize a model for living that is relatively unusual in the centre of Paris, and that would attract an entirely different kind of tenant than the street-front buildings. Instead of competing with the towering fire walls, we settled on a horizontal strategy, that is, we kept the buildings low to ensure that as many flats as possible would be directly and intimately connected with the grounds and the garden.

An extended, three-story structure with arcade-like balconies forms the backbone of the complex in the interior of the block. Adjoining it are cottage-like, one-storey buildings for the kitchens and bathrooms. In front of the long garden wall that runs along a school playground, we built a few extra small, one-family homes with gabled roofs. The result looks like a seemingly random system of small units, courtyards and lanes with fragments of old and new walls covered with cultivated and wild vegetation.

This urban model comes as surprise when one enters the courtyard because it presents such a great contrast to the alignment of 19th century blocks facing the street. But on taking a closer look, one discovers a few remnants of a still older, pre-Haussmann quarter, little streets like the Villa Mallebay, Villa Duthy or Villa Jamot, whose small scale and proportions are reflected in our buildings.

The living quarters in the different buildings and parts of buildings vary greatly in size, layout and placement, but all are designed with maximum daylight and interesting views of the landscaped courtyard.

The fair-faced concrete walls have been covered with a large, grid-like net of synthetic ropes to provide a growing base for climbing plants like ivy and wild grape vines. Wooden roller blinds along the three-storey façade run on molded metal tracks, giving the building a profile, like a piece of furniture.

Herzog & de Meuron, 2000

149_CP_0104_741_MS
149_CP_0104_741_MS

149_CP_0104_764_MS

149_CP_0104_720_MS
149_CP_0104_720_MS
149_CP_0104_769_MS
149_CP_0104_769_MS
149_CP_0104_775_MS
149_CP_0104_775_MS
149_CP_0104_725_MS
149_CP_0104_725_MS

Process

The two new buildings close off the perimeter of the block. The bend in the façade on Rue des Suisses guides one in. The various positions of the blinds enliven thee façade. The perforated folding blinds function like a curtain to provide privacy.

149_CP_0104_733_MS
149_CP_0104_733_MS
149_CP_0104_723_MS
149_CP_0104_723_MS
149_CP_0104_774_MS
149_CP_0104_774_MS
149_CP_0104_765_MS
149_CP_0104_765_MS

A long courtyard building extends behind the two new buildings. The courtyard façade of the narrow building facing Rue Jonquoy. Small concrete buildings adopt the scale of the former courtyard building. The courtyard becomes a garden; the façade has wires for climbing plants.

149_CP_0104_755_MS
149_CP_0104_755_MS
149_CP_0104_779_MS
149_CP_0104_779_MS
149_CP_0104_769_MS
149_CP_0104_769_MS
149_CP_0104_709_MS
149_CP_0104_709_MS

Two small concrete houses stand like pieces of furniture in the courtyard. Projecting extensions between the courtyard building and the partition wall. Plants grow on the back and short sides of the courtyard building. A garden in the middle of the city: courtyard with groups of trees.

149_CP_0104_716_MS
149_CP_0104_716_MS
149_CP_0104_752_MS
149_CP_0104_752_MS
149_CP_0104_710_MS
149_CP_0104_710_MS
149_CP_0104_719_MS
149_CP_0104_719_MS

Two small concrete hoses stand like pieces of furniture in the courtyard. Projecting extensions between the courtyard building and the partition wall. Plants grow on the back and short sides of the courtyard building. A garden in the middle of the city: courtyard with groups of trees.

149_CP_0104_728_MS
149_CP_0104_728_MS
149_CP_0104_720_MS
149_CP_0104_720_MS
149_CP_0104_775_MS
149_CP_0104_775_MS
149_CP_0104_784_MS
149_CP_0104_784_MS

Drawings

149_DR_0105_03_G2eme
149_DR_0105_03_G2eme
149_DR_0105_01_Grdec
149_DR_0105_01_Grdec
149_DR_0105_14P-01
149_DR_0105_14P-01
149_DT_000401_D2
149_DT_000401_D2
149_DT_010601_07_noText-01
149_DT_010601_07_noText-01

Team

Facts

Client
Régie Immobilière de la Ville de Paris
Planning
Architect Planning: Herzog & de Meuron, Basel, Switzerland
Partner Architect: Cabinet A.S.Mizrahi, Paris, France
General Contractor: Bouygues SA, Paris, France
Building Data
Site Area: 29'428 sqft, 2'734 sqm
Gross floor area (GFA): 90'621 sqft, 8'419 sqm
Footprint: 14'843 sqft, 1'379 sqm
Height: 121 ft, 37 m
Links
www.rivp.fr

Bibliography

Gerhard Mack, Herzog & de Meuron: “Herzog & de Meuron 1992-1996. The Complete Works. Volume 3.” Edited by: Gerhard Mack. Chinese ed. Beijing, China Architecture & Building Press, 2010. Vol. No. 3.

Luis Fernández-Galiano (Ed.): “Arquitectura Viva. Herzog & de Meuron 1978-2007.” 2nd rev. ed. Madrid, Arquitectura Viva, 2007.

Fernando Márquez Cecilia, Richard Levene (Eds.): “El Croquis. Herzog & de Meuron 1981-2000. Between the Face and the Landscape. The Cunning of Cosmetics. Entre el Rostro y el Paisaje. La Astucia de la CosmĂ©tica.” 2nd adv. and rev. ed. Vol. No. 60+84, Madrid, El Croquis, 2005.

Nobuyuki Yoshida (Ed.): “Architecture and Urbanism. Herzog & de Meuron 1978-2002.” Tokyo, A+U Publishing Co., Ltd., 02.2002.

“Herzog & de Meuron. Natural History.” Edited by: Philip Ursprung. Exh. Cat. “Herzog & de Meuron. Archaeology of the Mind.” Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal. 23 October 2002 – 6 April 2003. 2nd ed. Baden, Lars MĂĽller, 2005.

“Herzog & de Meuron. Naturgeschichte.” Edited by: Philip Ursprung. Exh. Cat. “Herzog & de Meuron. Archaeology of the Mind.” Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal. 23 October 2002 – 6 April 2003. 2nd ed. Baden, Lars MĂĽller, 2005.

“Herzog & de Meuron. Histoire Naturelle.” Edited by: Philip Ursprung. Exh. Cat. “Herzog & de Meuron. Archaeology of the Mind.” Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal. 23 October 2002 – 6 April 2003. Baden, Lars MĂĽller, 2002.

Fernando Márquez Cecilia, Richard Levene (Eds.): “El Croquis. Herzog & de Meuron 1998-2002. La Naturaleza del Artificio. The Nature of Artifice.” Vol. No. 109/110, Madrid, El Croquis, 2002.

Paolo Giardiello: “Interventi Urbani a Monaco e Parigi. Fünf Höfe, Monaco. Apartments Building, Rue des Suisses, Parigi.”
In: Marco Casamonti (Ed.). “Area. Rivista di Architettura e Arti del Progetto.” Vol. No. 61, Milan, Federico Motta editore spa, 03.2002. pp. 24-47.

Philippe Duboy: “Herzog & de Meuron. L’HĂ©tĂ©rotopie Ă  Paris. Rue des Suisses, XIVe Arrondissement.” In: Jean-Michel Place (Ed.). “L’Architecture d’Aujourd’hui.” Vol. No. 337, Paris, L’Architecture d’Aujourd’hui, 11.2001. pp. 112-117.

Herzog & de Meuron: “Gramática Urbana. Viviendas en la Rue des Suisses, Paris.” In: Luis Fernández-Galiano (Ed.). “Arquitectura Viva.” CohabitaciĂłn Europea. Vol. No. 81, Madrid, Arquitectura Viva SL, 11.2001. pp. 34-39.

Wilfried Wang: “Herzog & de Meuron.” 3rd adv. and rev. ed. Basel / Boston / Berlin, Birkhäuser, 1998. (= Studiopaperback).

Location