CONNECTING THE RAILWAY
[ University of Montreal & Paris Malaquais ]
[ University of Montreal & Paris Malaquais ]
LOCATION
Paris, France
YEAR Summer 2013
ADVISOR(S) Anne Cormier
COLLABORATOR(S) Adriana Izzo, Kim Chayer
Keywords | Public connectivity, communal living, affordable housing
YEAR Summer 2013
ADVISOR(S) Anne Cormier
COLLABORATOR(S) Adriana Izzo, Kim Chayer
Keywords | Public connectivity, communal living, affordable housing
This one-month workshop on location in Paris aimed to reimagine the housing landscape of the French capital. This project sits on an unconventional site: an abandoned 830m long, 25m wide railway line section, positioned 14m below the level of the adjacent streets. The objective of the masterplan is both to design an efficient and innovative housing project as well as offer the neighborhood a public recreational area that fosters social connectivity and physical exercise.
The gardens and street levels are entirely dedicated to the public offering cultural and sporting activities, shops and a public square. Two common towers provide entries to the residential buildings, vertical circulation, and shared spaces. The housing blocks are elevated above street level and each unit is accessible through outside corridors that are superimposed on the old railway tracks. Apartments prioritize simplicity and encourage residents to share semi-private spaces like bathrooms, kitchens, and balconies.