Architect：Chaix & Morel et associés

Location：Paris, France; | ;View Map

Category：Villages;Sports Centres

Repurposing thanks to innovation and consideration of the existing - the Olympic Village in Paris by chaixetmorel

On July 26, Paris will be the stage for the Olympic Games. Exactly 100 years ago, in 1924, the Olympic Games were held in the metropolis on the Seine. However, the IOC's decision to choose the French capital as the venue for the XXXIII Summer Games is based on completely different considerations than an anniversary. The city itself also set itself ambitious goals: these Games are to be the lowest-carbon and most climate-friendly in history; improved mobility and infrastructure, short distances for the athletes and the accessibility of all locations in just 30 minutes should help, as should the fact that 95% of the venues already existed and did not have to be newly built, as is the case with other major events.

While the competitions will take place in the heart of the city - at the Champs de Mars under the Eiffel Tower, at Place de la Concorde and in the newly renovated Grand Palais, to name just a few of the most spectacular venues - the construction of the Olympic Village, where the athletes and their entourage will be accommodated, was used to revitalize entire districts outside the city center. To the north of the city center, the large-scale urban development project Ecoquartier fluvial was created on former industrial sites in the districts of Saint-Denis, Saint Ouen and L'Île-Saint-Denis, not far from the Stade de France.

The French architecture firm chaixetmorel., whose four-member management team consists of the French Remi Lichnerowicz, Pierre Cornil, as well as the Austrian Walter Grasmug and Jan Horst from Hamburg, and whose Berlin branch is currently also pursuing prestigious projects in Germany, such as the conversion of part of Tegel Airport, once again demonstrated its expertise. Conversion of existing buildings, clever preservation of existing building fabric with simultaneous integration of new buildings, and always at the cutting edge of technology and aesthetics - chaixetmorel. have been known for this far beyond France for 25 years.

In this project, that chaixetmorel. realised together with real estate developer VINCI Immobilier, it was necessary to master the balancing act between preserving the existing building, creating suitable accommodation for the athletes and then continuing to use it as offices for a ministry long after the athletes had left. Chaixetmorel. built a contemporary, innovative and modern ensemble on an area of around 68,000m2 that houses apartments as well as service, training and storage facilities. The architects succeeded in integrating the architecturally exciting industrial buildings from the beginning of the 20th century (the Maxwell Hall) and its engineering building (the Copernic Pavilion) into the new use. The campus is structured around them, along a strong east-west axis that forms the heart of the new site.

A timber hybrid construction method was used for the new buildings. Many existing materials were reused on site (e.g. demolition concrete in the wire ballast boxes of the new plinth zone) or were taken from demolished buildings elsewhere and given a new life cycle (e.g. raised floors in the office areas). The CO2 footprint was already reduced by around 40% compared to similar projects during construction and will also result in significantly lower energy consumption during future use - first as an Olympic village and later as office space.

The Eco district is located in the northern district of Saint-Denis, on the banks of the Seine, in the heart of an urban fabric that includes a number of remarkable industrial buildings, including a former power station (Halle Maxwell), industrial architecture from the early 20th century, as well as its engineering building (Pavillon Copernic). Residential and large-scale commercial buildings have been naturally integrated into this fabric, giving the district a harmonious mix of uses. The program complements the current dynamics of the Saint-Denis plain, which is currently undergoing a major transformation.

The campus is structured around the Maxwell Hall, along a strong east-west axis that forms the backbone of the site. The two existing buildings have been renovated to match their original dimensions and colors. Entrances were created for the new business. The existing architectural heritage is thus preserved at the heart of the new campus and is an integral part of it. The new buildings are characterized by a sober, contemporary architecture that emphasizes qualities of use and innovation and underlines the dialogue between architectural heritage and contemporary architecture.

Two new buildings with seven upper floors have been created along Rue des Frères Lumière. On the west side, the gables facing the Copernic building are set back: the fragmentation and recession allow for terraces and generous open spaces. Volumes with three upper floors that connect the buildings serve as connectors and also offer large, planted and accessible terraces. Between these connectors, extensive gardens provide pleasant, sheltered outdoor areas.

By creating a biodiversity corridor on three complementary levels, the quality of the whole ensemble is emphasized; these are open spaces in the inner courtyard, planted terraces, viewpoints and connecting roofs.

Team:

Architect: Chaix & Morel et associés

Photography: Anne-Claude Barbier, Vincent Fillon

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