Les Allées Providence

Sergio Grazia

• Architects

The City of Versailles is continuing to transform the Les Chantiers district by rethinking the housing and service offer for its residents. Located close to the Versailles-Chantiers train station - the 2nd largest in the Île-de-France region, with 65,000 passengers and 500 trains per day, and a future station for theGrand Paris project (line 18) - and in the immediate vicinity of Lépine-Versailles, a new services facility for the elderly, the multi-centre and the des Chantiers stadium, the Providence-Versailles project includes :
- the creation of an open, tree-lined avenue to encourage pedestrian and cyclist traffic, enhancing the area's appearance and safety.
- a construction program promoting a balanced social mix through the creation of 28 private housing units, including 9 LLI (low-intermediary) and 19 social housing units.
- the creation of a doctor's surgery (435 m2) and an innovative health center (1120 m2) dedicated to the prevention of loss of autonomy, promoting residents' quality of life.This project was selected to feature in the exhibition Pierre: révéler la ressource, explorer le matériau, held from October 23 to December 2, 2018 at the Pavillon de l'Arsenal. It has also been shortlisted for the Prix d'architectures 2023.

photo_credit Sergio Grazia — Sergio Grazia

This is a dense urban program of 60 housing units (32 open-access housing units, 19 social housing units including 2 dedicated to exclusive housing for disabled adults, 9 intermediate rental housing units) also including a 435 m² health center, a business premises and two office floors (1,120 m²) dedicated to the prevention of loss of autonomy.

In the spring of 2018, the City of Versailles launched an invitation to tender for the sale of a disused and asbestos-contaminated EHPAD building. The competition was won by the two architects associated with the Eliet&Lehmann agency, who also presented themselves as developers.

Denis Eliet and Laurent Lehmann go against the grain of the proposed
by taking advantage of the low, open landscape of the railway tracks
to extend what was then a dead end. This Mail -which was later handed back to the City- is the central element that transforms the nature of what had previously been an indeterminate rear.

A disproportionate step completes the composition to the north the path running alongside the railway tracks into a shared space into a shared space for pedestrians, cyclists and cars, as part of a with the City of Versailles.

The two residential buildings face the Mail. To the west, there is a condominium with free access, and to the east, the social and intermediate housing building. To the north the Maison de Santé and two office blocks (not part of the program). program). This third volume is aligned with an existing commercial building to the east. The entire project is part of is part of the renewal project for the station area by the City of Versailles.

OUTDOOR SPACES, COMMON AREAS, HOUSING

From the central mall, a private driveway leads to the day care center of the new Ephad next door. This driveway helps to open up what was once an impassable plot of land. A second pathway crosses the landscaped garden to the east of the condominium, enabling people with reduced mobility to reach the pathway bordering the railway tracks. This private garden - only open during the day - serves the high ground-floor apartments, designed as townhouses. Each apartment-villa has its own garden, opening onto bedrooms and living rooms. The south-facing living room windows rise to 3.20 m and are protected by sunshades at the top.

The entrance halls and adjoining bicycle rooms are spacious and bright, with Comblanchien floors and solid oak mailbox cabinets. The open-access building's hallway is panelled in oak. Each hall is designed as a simple, dignified and powerful reception area, with neither fashion nor decorative chatter.

Very similar in composition, the apartments in the home-ownership building are distinguished by the absence of heating elements (low-temperature heating) and the presence of solid oak parquet flooring. Kitchens and bathrooms have been fitted with Comblanchien on request. Everywhere, the quest for quality is paramount.

A STRONG COMMITMENT TO MATERIALS AND HOUSING TYPOLOGY

The Allées Providence program is the first project delivered by the two architect-developers. By assuming the prerogatives of the project owner, they have taken on the role of arbitrators, which normally elude the project manager.

These arbitrations begin with the choice of materials. All materials used are chosen with a concern for quality and durability, whether for open-access housing, social rental or intermediate rental.

One main material has been given pride of place: solid load-bearing stone. This geosourced material, which has a very low carbon footprint and lasts a very long time, is used according to a precise layout, using modules available from quarries. It's economical. These trade-offs continue with the typological choices. Each home is designed to be bright, functional and comfortable, with ample outdoor space*. Standard ceiling heights are 2.60 m. This meticulous attention to construction results in simple, yet thoughtful homes. This difference can be seen and appreciated. It saves on marketing costs, which can sometimes be disproportionately high. The money saved adds to the cost of construction. It's a virtuous circle.