“Balcon sur Paris” win the competition “Inventons la Métropole du Grand Paris”

Balcon sur Paris

«Balcon sur Paris» was awarded the first prize of the competition «Inventons la Métropole du Grand Paris» on the site «Marne Europe – Villiers-sur-Marne». Carried out as a collaboration between La Compagnie de Phalsbourg, Coder et Compagnie and Emerige and the architects Kengo Kuma & Associates, OXO Architectes, XTU Architects, Stefano Boeri Architetti, Michael Green Architecture and Koz Architectes together with the landscape architects James Corner Field Operations and Atelier Paul Arene.

Balcon sur Paris
Image © Luxigon pour la Compagnie de Phalsbourg – Oxo Architectes – Duncan Lewis Scape Architecture – Parc Architectes

The project Balcon sur Paris will represent the first high-density and high-rise project in wood constructed in Europe. Sixty percent of the project will be realized in wood, this including also the timber high-rise buildings. The project Balcon sur Paris is composed of 10 buildings staggered around Jardin Métropolitain, devised between the Congress Centre and the new train station of Grand Paris Express (Bry-Villiers-Champigny on the line 15 South).

Balcon sur Paris
Image © Luxigon pour la Compagnie de Phalsbourg – Oxo Architectes – Duncan Lewis Scape Architecture – Parc Architectes

With regard to the program, the area of 126 000m² will accommodate a mixed-use that blends 670 residencies, offices, retail, two hotels, a multiplex cinema and a Congress Centre for more than 2000 places. Planted terraces are interspersed among living and working spaces creating unique livable places with outstanding views over the landscape. The buildings are articulated by passerelles, which facilitate communication and movement and by an active ground level. All this, Balcon sur Paris becomes will become a landmark as well as a connector at the scale of the Metropole Grand Paris.

Balcon sur Paris
Image © Luxigon pour la Compagnie de Phalsbourg – Oxo Architectes – Duncan Lewis Scape Architecture – Parc Architectes

Within the team, Oxo Architectes will lead the design of «Le Potager de Villiers» and «Business Home» buildings. Le Potager de Villiers The building complex is composed of 3 residential buildings on a continuous transparent base that accommodates commerce and an underground parking. The market is innovating on one hand by its interior design, large windows that bring natural light and increase the visibility and interaction with the park Jardin Métropolitan. On the other hand, its rooftop becomes a place for developing urban agriculture.

Balcon sur Paris
Image © Luxigon pour la Compagnie de Phalsbourg – Oxo Architectes – Duncan Lewis Scape Architecture – Parc Architectes

Thus, it is created a very effective cycle between production and commercialization in the market and the panorama restaurant. Business Home The building is situated in the north part of the Marne Europe complex facing the Congress Center Est Parisien. It is composed of a superposition of layers destined for living or working. The ground floor accommodates a restaurant for the enterprises during lunch time and for the neighborhood during evenings, widely open to the Jardin Métropolitan, this natural element stimulates activities on its terraces.

Balcon sur Paris
Image © Luxigon pour la Compagnie de Phalsbourg – Oxo Architectes – Duncan Lewis Scape Architecture – Parc Architectes

On top of this planted base, there are the two volumes, one accommodating offices and the other residences. The timber structure draws the rhythm of the facades at the ground floor and the office building. This created rhythm accompanies people who cross the site from East to West between the Boulevard and Jardin Métropolitan, between Altival and Palais des Congrès. An exterior vegetal skin is created by cables hang on balconies and vegetation pots. This skin becomes a natural filter for all the apartments in the building.

Balcon sur Paris
Image © Luxigon pour la Compagnie de Phalsbourg – Oxo Architectes – Duncan Lewis Scape Architecture – Parc Architectes
  • Location: Villiers-sur-Marne, France
  • Architects: Kengo Kuma & Associates, OXO Architectes,
    XTU Architects, Stefano Boeri Architetti,Michael Green
    Architecture, et Koz Architectes
  • Client: Compagnie de Phalsbourg + Codeurs et compagnie +
    Emerige
  • Program: Housing +Offices+ Retail + Cinema + Hotels +
    Congress Center
  • Size: 126 000 m2
  • Status: 1st Prize International Competition
  • Construction Delivery: 2022-2024
  • Images: Courtesy of OXO Architectes

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