Sustainable and multi-program reconversion in Lille, France, “Le 31” is the transformation, reclassification, and elevation of the former Galeries Lafayette department store. The choice was made to keep the structure of the existing building, in order to limit the environmental and carbon footprint of the project. Once a single piece, the building is now divided into several independent entities, introducing diversity into this development, with four retail units, a 120-room hotel, offices, and a four-level parking garage.

The building’s aesthetic is enhanced by its accordion-pleated glass wall, something unprecedented on this scale. Through its masterful reflections and play of light on the glass laid at an angle, the street appears wider, amplifying the feeling of comfort and space for passersby. The uniqueness and transparency of this device on the façade facing rue de Béthune reconnects with retail appeal and the scale of the streetscape. 

The reflective materials (anodized aluminum cladding and mirror-polished stainless-steel thorns) give the elevation an evanescent character that blends into the sky by reflecting variations in light and weather conditions.