The design of the project is an homage to Tony Garnier, the modernist architect whose projects had an funda- mental influence on Lyon. It is specifically influenced by the “Halle de Tony Garnier” and the worker’s housing neighborhood “Quartier des Etats-Unis”.The stepped pyramid shape of the “Halle de Tony Garnier” is mirrored in the volume of the creche and housing project, while the rhythm of the facade of the “Quartier des Etats-Unis” inspired a rhythmic and dynamic expression of the facade of the new building.

The building consist of a crèche on the ground floor and six duplex housing units sitting on top.The inhabitantsrest on the shoulders of children.The continuous stepping back of the upper floors produces a structure of a stepped pyramid offering high quality external spaces at all levels. All flats are duplex apartments, going over two floors. Each apartment has four rooms, and every room has its own private terrace. Simply through the act of stepping back, through the stepped pyramid shape, a small luxury of a private terrace to each room is provided. 

Responding to the situation of the building in the center of the urban block, opening of the louvers as sun protec- tion creates an external space that is intimate and secure. When stepping outside from a room, the loovers are opened and create a private space that is shielded from the neighbor’s view.When closing these louvers , the building obtains an undulating, rhythmic facade, with a sculptural and expressive quality.The louvers’ movement reflects the use and life in the building. Each apartment is organized over two floors, with the children and parents on different levels, thus offering privacy to the living space and giving each room its own terrace.The best apartments in town! 

Team:
Architect: Manuel Herz Architects
Team: Manuel Herz, François de Font-Reaulx
Structural Engineers: Cetis Ingénierie
Services: Iliade Ingénierie
Building Physics: Etamine HQE
Project Coordination: AFAA Architecture
Client: Icade Promotion
General Contractor: Leon Grosse
Photography: Yuri Palmin / Manuel Herz