SOM and Ateliers 2/3/4/ selected for Charenton-Bercy District Masterplan and Tower in Eastern Paris

Charenton-Bercy District Masterplan

A team led by Bouygues Immoblier UrbanEra – the communities development arm of Bouygues Group – including international Architect Skidmore Owings and Merrill (SOM), Architects-Urbanists-Landscape Designers Ateliers 2/3/4/, AREP, and community ‘think tank’ Le Grand Reservoir; has been selected by the Ville de Charenton and Grand Paris Amenagement as the preferred development team for the Charenton-Bercy project on the eastern edge of Paris.

Charenton-Bercy District Masterplan
Image ©SOM, Ateliers 2/3/4/ and AREP

Launching this week at MIPIM, the project is one of 52 government initiatives on the outskirts of Paris which make up the ‘Grand Paris’ development plan for the wider metropolis. Established as part of the developer bid process, the SOM-led masterplan proposes a highly connected urban district incorporating a 180m tall Net Zero Energy hotel and residential tower and a contemporary rotunda building which will form the heart of a new ‘Virtual Reality’ tech hub for the city.

Charenton-Bercy District Masterplan
Image ©SOM, Ateliers 2/3/4/ and AREP

At the heart of the redevelopment, a 180m tall tower with a highly sustainable agenda sits at the intersection of three key circulation routes established by the masterplan. The tower is carefully integrated into the development at ground level, with a new plaza creating urban life for Charenton whilst ensuring a human scale. The tower also creates a new model for living in Paris, with loft-like apartments fronting ‘suspended gardens’ high above the street.

Charenton-Bercy District Masterplan
Image © SOM and Luxigon

In dialogue with the tower, a new circular building is proposed – ‘Neo’ – which will form the heart of a new digital hub for eastern Paris. Designed to respond to its 360 degree context, the circular timber frame building is raised on two sides to create a public courtyard and open view to the Seine. The building will be animated with an interactive façade, revealing the innovative ‘virtual reality’ work occurring within. Source by SOM and Ateliers 2/3/4/, images Courtesy of SOM.

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