The 35-meter-high vertical garden, Arborescence, is the winning scheme of the "Imagine Angers" open-call competition, showing how architecture can weave nature into the urban environment. Designed by architectural studio WY-TO, with offices in both Paris and Singapore, the project creates a memorable landmark for Angers, often called the horticultural capital of France, by linking the Maine River with the city center.
WY-TO's design blends Angers’ horticultural heritage with Singapore’s vertical greening, expressed in abundant planting across all levels. The orientation of the building ensures that each living space benefits from generous natural light, cross-ventilation, and unobstructed views, improving occupant well-being.
Intergenerational strategy
An intergenerational strategy guides the overarching programming of the development, with different walks of life — preschoolers, working adults, and seniors — converging at a shared central garden. Accessible to all during the day, the garden transforms into a vibrant exchange hub between generational groups to strengthen social links and nurture empathy.
Similarly, bioclimatic efforts are reinforced through green roofs and terraces for thermal insulation, promoting biodiversity, and addressing urban density challenges. Embodying an innovative and integrative approach, Arborescence presents a holistic, sustainable solution that connects nature, people, and the urban environment.
Biophilic architecture
Biophilia, a concept that places nature at the center of human well-being, is the essence of Arborescence. Its architecture integrates greenery and daylight at every level, fostering a harmonious relationship between people and their surroundings. Outdoor terraces and panoramic views provide space for relaxation and social exchange, reconnecting residents with nature in an urban setting.
Well-being is further expressed through the project’s fluid geometry and abundant planting. At its heart stands the towering ‘Tree of Life,’ creating a welcoming focal point and pleasant outlooks. Wooden soffits add warmth and a sense of protection, while generous shared spaces encourage community. By blending wood, planting, and spatial openness, Arborescence offers a restorative alternative to conventional urban living.
Integrating nature with urban living
Arborescence integrates with its site by harnessing prevailing winds and optimising sunlight. The south-facing facade, running east to west, maximises solar gain in winter, while balconies provide shading in summer. Planting in open ground enhances the cool-island effect, supporting bioclimatic performance. The multi-oriented housing units benefit from natural cross-ventilation, while the undulating terraces offer unobstructed sky views, ensuring comfort and well-being for residents.
With its green roofs and planted terraces, Arborescence promotes biodiversity and integrates into urban ecological corridors. The project comprises 122 housing units — including senior living — a nursery, amenities, and offices. It spans 2,600 square meters at ground level, with a total floor area of 8,900 square meters. The building balances density with abundant greenery and open space at all levels, providing a sustainable and harmonious alternative to urban sprawl.
Diversity as a social link
A unique intergenerational approach shapes the overall narrative. The central garden, where all circulation routes converge, connects the various programs — nursery, senior living, residential units, and offices — and welcomes the general public during the day. The green spaces and common areas are designed to encourage interaction among diverse groups and foster vibrant, serendipitous encounters.
Blending programmes, fostering connection
Arborescence integrates with its site through three articulated facades that accommodate a variety of uses. The design balances technical requirements and regulations with the creation of generous communal spaces, including a central hall and garden.
The program is arranged across interlocking layers: the ground floor contains offices, a nursery, and senior amenities; the podium is dedicated to senior living; and the upper levels host residential units, an urban cottage, and a wellness centre.
This programmatic diversity fosters a vibrant, layered sense of place. Shared spaces act as meeting points where seniors, children, adults, and students encounter one another, recalling the intergenerational homes once common in the city and nurturing empathy through everyday connections.
Arborescence’s distinctive morphology, inspired by the form of a tree, generates a variety of spaces filled with light and air. Housing units radiate around a central "trunk", benefitting from multiple orientations, crafted views, and natural cross-ventilation. The two eastern and western "arms" accommodate senior units, where patios appear to float among the century-old plane trees overlooking the Maine River. This innovative design weaves diversity, comfort, and environmental harmony into a coherent whole.
The Arborescence project has been awarded the NF HABITAT HQE label, a French certification that attests to a high standard of environmental quality and performance across the building's lifecycle. It evaluates criteria including energy and water management, responsible waste handling, and the health and comfort of occupants.
Low-carbon materials and bioclimatic design
The project’s embodied carbon strategy integrates structural needs with mindful material selection. Concrete serves as the primary material due to the building's unique shape, cantilever, and proximity to the Maine River, necessitating deep foundations. In contrast, wood is used in roof extensions, facade cladding, and balcony undersides as a low-carbon option. Construction waste was sorted and recycled with TR'n'Collect, aiming to recover up to 90 percent of materials.
Bioclimatic principles influence the design of Arborescence, lowering operational energy consumption. The compact volume minimizes heat loss, while the building's orientation and multi-oriented housing units maximize daylight and natural ventilation. Balconies provide shading, while vertical gardens and green roofs improve thermal insulation and support cooling. A central community garden promotes rainwater infiltration, reducing stormwater runoff.
