The Village Hennemont, located to the west of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, is a major 1950s development designed by architects Jean Dubuisson and Félix Dumail, set within a classified wooded site. Our project for 65 residential units is integrated into two of the three buildable zones of the Village Hennemont. The desire to preserve the site’s natural character, topography, and vegetation has guided our design choices. Our goal has been to maximize the preservation of the site while maintaining the quality of the original Dubuisson-designed apartments and their views of the surrounding wooded park.

A Respectful Integration into the Site
The primary intention behind the building placement is to respect the existing layout of the Village Hennemont’s buildings, allowing the new structures to blend gradually into the natural landscape. The project is situated on the eastern and western buildable zones, each divided into two plots, resulting in four distinct buildings. These buildings feature subtle inclinations, contrasting with the orthogonal grid of the existing structures, and create visual openings to ensure the wooded park remains a central element of the project.

This typology allows each building to offer unobstructed orientations on all sides, with a limited number of units per floor. As a result, nearly all apartments benefit from dual orientations, and none are solely north-facing.

A Project Connected to Its Landscape
The project seeks to engage in a dialogue with the 1950s architecture while reinterpreting it. Each building is divided into two horizontal bands of equal proportion. The lower section, comprising the ground floor and first level, forms a concrete base with a light-colored render. The upper section, consisting of the second level and attic, is distinguished by wooden cladding and lighter, floating elements. A lightweight wooden post-and-beam structure on the top two floors provides solar protection and maintains visual connections.

All apartments feature outdoor spaces, offering diverse ways to experience the outdoors. On the standard floors, loggias are integrated into the corners, creating an organized articulation between levels. On the attic level, long terraces provide unobstructed views of the wooded park and the plains below. On the ground floor, gardens blend into the surrounding park, offering generous outdoor spaces for the residents.

The project harmoniously blends modern living with the site’s natural beauty, ensuring a thoughtful and respectful integration into this historic and verdant setting.