A/Entre – vertical village

 

Program 50 housing units and a nursery
Floor Area 3,250 m²
Location Chaville, Greater Paris Region, France
Year 2021
Client Erisma
Team ARKHENSPACES + Atelier TOTEM: Éric Cassar, Jean-François Brault, Cosma Allen, Alaa Sndyaan, Juvenal Rubinos, Jacqueline Barthélémy, Stefania Rosafio, Yakoub Nasry, Tristan Mory
Cost Consultant Eco+Construire

 

General Principles ENTRE / ANTRE
A vertical village between city and forest.

Between vegetation and mineral matter.
Between shadow and light.
Between sharing and independence.
Between calm and exchange.
Between surprise and comfort.

Allow yourself to pause, wander and be surprised.

The project explores intermediate spaces, thresholds and relationships that connect inhabitants to their environment.

It invites residents to experience the sensations of a warm and delicate refuge.

Here, architecture becomes an instrument of environments, improving collective living, bringing calm and opening new possibilities.

 

Reinvesting the In-Between

The site enjoys an exceptional location at the edge of the forest and only a few minutes’ walk from Chaville railway station.

Our proposal seeks to reinvest this in-between condition:

- between neighbouring buildings by weaving together the disparities of the existing urban fabric;
- between city and forest by softening the boundary through vegetation that appears to gradually take over the building (garden side);
- between public space and inhabited space by reinforcing the urban corner formed by Rue du Coteau and Rue Carnot, where the nursery is located.

Density becomes here a tool for preserving open ground while limiting overshadowing on neighbouring buildings.

 

Inhabiting the In-Between

The project develops a flexible and evolving structure capable of accommodating future changes in lifestyles and uses.

An independent rational grid allows housing typologies to evolve easily over time.

The compact building relies on this simple structural framework onto which independent timber terraces are attached, providing every dwelling with a generous outdoor extension.

As a result, 100% of the apartments benefit from a private outdoor space.

 

An Architecture of Possibilities

The project offers a diversity of places, paths, atmospheres and situations, supporting both intimacy and social interaction.

  • The Shared Living Room
    A large soundproofed communal space designed for celebrations, gatherings and collective activities.
  • The Sky Garden
    A place that can be calm or lively depending on the moment, offering long views over both the city and the forest.
  • The Shared Workspaces
    Flexible spaces for remote working, studying or collaborative activities, connected to an accessible garden.
  • The Fissure
    A traversing hall offering changing atmospheres, viewpoints and relaxation areas on every level.
  • The Vegetable Garden
    A productive landscape encouraging biodiversity, self-sufficiency and social connections.
  • The Scent Garden
    A more intimate outdoor space designed for small groups and quiet encounters.
  • The Habitable Staircases
    Generous half-landings offering places to read, work, talk or simply withdraw for a moment.

 

A Movement Architecture

The architecture takes into account the movement of both residents and visitors.

Every viewpoint tells a different story.

The building acts as an instrument of environments:

- light reveals materials throughout the day;
- coloured blinds periodically transform the appearance of the façades;
- vegetation changes the perception of the building through the seasons;
- brick, timber and rendered surfaces compose a subtle interplay of textures, colours, reflections and shimmering effects.

Architecture is no longer conceived as a fixed object but as an evolving experience.

 

Materials and Atmospheres

The façades explore the expressive potential of brick through varied bonds, textures, dark tones, lighter nuances and moiré effects, creating a rich and changing materiality.

The main corner of the project receives a specific architectural treatment to reinforce its urban presence.

On the garden façades, a pale water-green render dialogues with the surrounding vegetation while helping to reduce summer overheating.

 

Ecology and Learning

The project combines energy sobriety, local energy production and environmental awareness.

Solar thermal panels, photovoltaic panels, rainwater harvesting, composting systems and productive gardens contribute to the creation of a more autonomous residential ecosystem.

The building also encourages environmentally responsible behaviour through simple and educational devices designed to help residents better understand and manage their water and energy consumption.

More than a technical performance, ecology becomes part of everyday culture.

 

Inhabiting the In-Between.