Cinetic

With its L-shaped geometry hinging around the main road and the square, the new building helps give the site a vibrant feel by providing shops and a restaurant at street level.

In the interests of neighbourliness and interior comfort, the project developed different façades, each with a distinct identity consistent with its orientation and the buildings opposite. The north-west façade on the avenue de la Porte des Lilas is distinctive for its strikingly original irregular pleating. Extending along a length of 112 metres, this large face has the appearance of an accordion arranged so as to capitalise on both the favourable orientations, the north side, facing the outskirts of the city, and the west side, facing central Paris. The north-facing pleats are made of clear glass, while those facing west have screen printed glazing, serving as a canvas for a work by artist Elisabeth Ballet representing a chestnut tree and its branches, as seen in close-up.

The second urban face, the façade overlooking the place du Maquis-du-Vercors and the avenue du Docteur Gley, takes its identity from a strongly accentuated plinth and a progressive hollowing-out of the upper levels and attic. The piers are made from prefabricated concrete panels.

Unlike these dynamic façades, the one overlooking the interior garden is characterised by its regularity and its more intimate, homely feel. The solar protection provided by the balconies formed by overhanging flagstones is put to good use by providing additional relaxation areas for employees. The final level is a special place, affording magnificent views of Paris and its outskirts.