The complex between Rue de Lorraine and Rue de Crimé, close to La Villette Park, was to replace the existing residential development. The architects, however, decided to preserve the frame of one of the buildings from the late 1970s (while the asbestos was completely removed), and instead of the other, they nevertheless erect a completely new one, reaching eight floors at the highest point (the old and new buildings are combined). The courtyard in the center of the quarter has been preserved and reconstructed. A two-storey residential block and a one-storey social canteen were also built, with a black metal facade and a roof planted with tall grasses.
The rest of the new complex is faced with ceramic panels with iridescent glaze - three types of relief, made in two colors - blue and yellow. This is not the first time the Périphériques bureau has used such decor: among their works there is already a Parisian
a complex of affordable housing with iridescent glazed tiles on the facades, where, however, it is combined with other materials. On rue Lorraine, the complex texture and color of the facades is due to the large number of windows: 350 openings for 173 studio apartments would otherwise create a very monotonous impression.
Each studio consists of living space and a block at the entrance - from a bathroom, a kitchen and a storage room, so that the room itself is freer and receives maximum sunlight. Light-colored furnishings made of simple materials give the interior a restraint, which makes it easier to "settle in". The common areas on the ground floor and the corridors above have multi-colored tiled floors, the dining room - in black and white. The complex provides a laundry room, meeting room, administrative premises, a common room: they are glazed and allow passers-by to look inside the building.
The total area of the complex is 5229 m2, the budget is 11.7 million euros.
