Located in the heart of the dense urban fabric of Levallois-Perret, this office and laboratory project is part of a cluster of major fragrance companies.
The façade plays with relief grids, drawing on the geometric simplicity of 1930s architecture to spark curiosity, engage the eye, and create a discreet yet technical composition that gives the building a unique identity.
With the exception of its foundations, the entire existing building was deconstructed with the goal of reusing and recycling its materials through the company Backacia. The new construction, which has been awarded the BREEAM Very Good label, is organized over two basement levels and six above-ground floors, including a set-back attic level opening onto a rooftop terrace. The rear façade contributes to the building's thermal balance through the integration of generous green spaces in both patios and terraces.
The façade composition draws inspiration from the architectural language prevalent in Levallois-Perret — specifically the geometric simplicity of 1930s buildings, which themselves referenced the ordered façades and vocabulary of the Belle Époque. This lineage can be traced in the dialogue between 92 rue Anatole France, built in the early 20th century, and 84 rue Anatole France, constructed in the 1930s.
To open the building generously onto the inner courtyard, a series of successive setbacks were applied to the façade. These create a cascade of planted terraces rising from the basement level all the way to the roof, recreating green spaces and significantly increasing the permeability of the plot.
The floor plates are organized to maximize workspace quality and natural light. Open-plan offices and laboratory spaces alternate across the upper floors, while shared and rest areas benefit from well-appointed landscaped outdoor spaces. The garden-level cafeteria opens onto two patios, the ground floor entrance is framed by landscaped surroundings, the first floor opens onto a generous terrace, and the roof accommodates a large rooftop garden.
Nestled within the dense urban fabric of Levallois-Perret, this office and laboratory complex has found its place among the city's prestigious cluster of fragrance industry leaders.
The façade is where the project first makes its mark. A sophisticated interplay of relief grids and geometric precision that draws its inspiration from the architectural language of the 1930s, an era that knew how to balance restraint with elegance. The result is a composition that invites a second glance, subtle, technical, yet deeply expressive, lending the building an identity that feels both rooted in its context and unmistakably contemporary.
Before a single new stone was laid, the project made a bold environmental statement. The entire existing structure, down to its foundations, was carefully deconstructed to allow for the reuse and recycling of its materials, in partnership with specialist firm Backacia. The new building, which has been awarded the BREEAM Very Good label, rises across two basement levels and six above-ground floors, crowned by a light-filled attic that opens onto a generous rooftop terrace.
The architectural dialogue with Levallois-Perret runs deeper than aesthetics alone. The façade composition echoes the stylistic heritage of the neighborhood, tracing a lineage from the Belle Époque to the clean geometric confidence of the 1930s. AF85 becomes a quiet conversation between eras.
At the rear, the architecture opens up entirely. A cascading series of setbacks creates a verdant succession of planted terraces that climb from the basement to the rooftop, increasing the permeability of the plot while weaving nature back into the city. Far from an afterthought, these green spaces are integral to the building's thermal balance and to the quality of life within.
Inside, the floor plates are thoughtfully designed to flood workspaces with natural light, alternating between open-plan offices and state-of-the-art laboratory spaces. Communal and relaxation areas spill outward onto carefully landscaped terraces at every level. The garden-level cafeteria opens onto two intimate patios, the ground floor welcomes visitors through a landscaped entrance, the first floor unfolds onto a sweeping terrace, and the rooftop offers a true urban garden in the sky.
