Straddling a railway line in Paris’s Clichy-Batignolles quarter, the site demanded the lightest-weight construction method possible. This is where the wood came into its own. Above Green Office® ENJOY’s baseplate rises a classic beam-and-post structure of glued spruce and pine laminate, its floors made of cross-laminated pine. As for the façades, they are constructed using a solid timber frame with sterling board (OSB) and mineral wool, and finished with aluminium cassettes.
Acting as a natural carbon store, the structure’s 2,700m³ of Scandinavian and Austrian timber hold 520 tonnes of CO2, while the construction process expended 2,900 fewer tonnes of CO2 than a conventional building project. More than just a technical solution, the choice of wood also brings a natural feel to the building, where users are able to enjoy the special atmosphere created by its visible presence.
This compact structure has more to offer, however, than its undeniable ecological credentials. Baumschlager Eberle Architects and SCAPE have broken with the closed frontages of the classic Paris perimeter block development, creating a boon for both users and passers-by and lending the surrounding area an open, transparent feel. The architects have also succeeded in positioning the structure so as to emphasise the north-western entrance to the quarter without the need for grand gestures. Passengers arriving at the station are greeted by an urban sculpture, its strong vertical elements echoing the traditional architecture of Paris just as its cream-coloured aluminium façade reflects the sky.
Credits
Architecture: Baumschlager Eberle Architekten (lead architect), SCAPE Ludovica Di Falco with Francesco Marinelli (associated architect). SCAPE Team: Mathilde Mouchel (project manager); Giorgia Aurigo, Sarah Bellal, Fabien Compan, Hans-Eric Daroczi, Giulia Settimi
