Residential building, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
A high-class residential building with a view of the Seine as well as the up-and-coming cultural hot spot was built in the wealthy Parisian suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt.
Boulogne-Billancourt is located to the west of Paris – a suburb that is so excellently connected to the French capital and densely populated that it could even be described as the city’s 21st Arrondissement.
Boulogne is one of the most affluent cities of France. The city owes this to the buzzing activities on the Seine island Île Seguin: From 1919 to 1992 the island was the production site of the French car manufacturer Renault. After the last Renault Supercinq left the assembly belt, the dismantling of the industrial area began and was completed in 2005: tons of asbestos had to be disposed of and the ground needed to be decontaminated.
Since 2009, the plan has been to transform the former industrial area of the island into three parts and into a cultural hot spot; Initially, the architect and Pritzker award winner Jean Nouvel was commissioned. As is the case with all ambitious urban planning projects, things progressed slower on the Île Seguin than planned; Since the presentation, the master plan has been adapted and modified several times.
But since 2015 one can follow the construction progress from the front row seats on the mainland: Following the plans of the Belgian architecture firm XDGA, an ensemble of two buildings with spacious apartments and high-class exterior were envisioned along the Avenue Lefaucheux and Rue de Meudon.
The buildings converge on the corner of Avenue Lefaucheux and Rue de Meudon and are separated by an aisle. The ensemble impresses with distinctive lines and a timeless design. The slightly offset levels and glass balconies and terraces offer an exciting exterior. The impression is supported by a visual split in the façade: While the living area features a light façade, black-dyed concrete was used in the area of the ground floor, which noticeably refines the appearance.
The architects’ choice fell on the RECKLI concrete pattern Travertin, which appears to resemble exposed concrete at first glance and offers exciting elements with irregular air impacts. The choice of black concrete adds to the high-quality look.
The construction work on the new concert hall La Seine Musicale on the western point of the Île Seguin was punctually finished simultaneously with the residential ensemble. And the hall is a visual treat, designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban and the Frenchman Jean de Gastines: A huge glass pearl sits enthroned atop a roughly 300-meter long concrete base, that is oriented along the island’s geographic aspects. The glass ball, whose splendor and pomp is reminiscent of a Fabergé egg, is enveloped on the side by a sail with photovoltaic cells. Not a bad view for the residents of the quarter in Boulogne.