Two residential buildings are located at two port lock basins (Bassins à flot): the area around them is now transforming from an industrial zone into a mixed development area - with apartments, offices, commercial and leisure facilities. At the same time, objects of industrial heritage have been preserved: the famous BETASOM submarine base turned into a cultural center, elevators, cranes, sluices, various kinds of warehouses, etc.
The environment included in the UNESCO World Heritage List could not but influence the project: the architects gave their building the image of a "hangar", and the metal panels of the street facades also remind of industrial history. At the same time, a completely different image was created in the courtyard between the buildings: the snow-white facades of parallel houses - Résidence Blanqui for 149 social apartments and Native origin for 196 apartments sold on attractive terms to preferential categories of the population - flank a winter garden located at the second level (while - first residential) floor. The courtyard is a glazed space with natural ventilation - cool in summer and warm in winter, which has a positive effect on the “climate” in apartments (therefore, courtyard facades could be made relatively thin). Part of the roof of the courtyard is glazed, part is metal, part is covered with solar panels (the choice of material depends on the angle of incidence of the sun's rays). The garden is irrigated with rainwater collected for this purpose, and a parking lot is arranged underneath, at the level of the non-residential ground floor.
The total area of the complex is 27,363 m2, the budget is 30 million euros. The Résidence Blanqui “social” building contains 10,222 m2 of living space and 533 m2 of commercial space, parking and service facilities. The apartments there range in size from one bedroom to five bedrooms. Native origin has 15 663 m2 of living space and 945 m2 of commercial space. His apartments are also available in 5 “sizes”, with the 4 bedroom duplexes having a rooftop solarium terrace.
