The Familistère is an auto-development dwellings project for and from archi5 partners. The plot is just next to the architecture studio. The whole project took two years from funding, conception, design and construction. An heterogeneous context Around the site, like often in the city of Montreuil, the existing is extremely various. Houses with pretty garden, a schoo, a church, seven stories social housings are co-existing in a friendly anarchy. Since the plot is very close to the metro, the urbanistic rules allow 7 stories to be built. the idea of a homogeneous building made evidence with a stainless steel cladding covering both façade and roof. This volume adds its signature to the environment. A stealth building The right answer to this context was to design a light building, with reduced visual impact. The abstract façade reflects its environment. The windows with their dark grey frames are animating this façade.

The stainless steel reflections is slightly blurred by light waves on the façade. A building following the weather It takes sky’s tint, following seasons as trees around. This envelop gives to the building many changing identities. It’s a dynamic façade, giving back sunlight to surroundings buildings during the day and reflecting street lights at night.