OFIS Arhitekti Win Student Housing Competition in Paris

Posted: Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Slovenia-based OFIS Arhitekti have won the first prize in the invited competition for a student
dormitory in Paris Route des Petits Ponts. The project had to deal with an odd-shaped site,
tight completion deadlines, accessibility for handicapped people, and high demands in
sustainability due to the city of Paris climate plan. The architects decided not just to integrate a
building into its environment but rather to integrate a piece of street, a facade composed of
buildings and landscape.

Competition winning student apartment complex in Paris, France by OFIS Arhitekti

From the designers:
General Description
The project involves a dormitory with 180 studios on the site of the Stade de Ladoumgue in
Paris in 19th district. The plot of the building is part of urban development done by Reichen &
Robert architects.

Competition winning student apartment complex in Paris, France by OFIS Arhitekti

By early 2012, the Paris tram will pass by the site, and the goal is to complete the project before
the opening in 2011. Another project goal is to achieve a building consumption with very little
power, joining the desire of the city of Paris through its climate plan. The major objectives of
the project is to design a home to accommodate students able to offer them a healthy
environment for study, learn, have fun, meet ... The building must be energy efficient and be
built at the end of 2010. To achieve these objectives with energy performance and construction
time table plan the focus was to design a simple, well insulated and ventilated object which will
function at best during all seasons.
Architectural, urban and technical proposal
The parcel has a very particular configuration; 11 meters in width and extends about 200 meters
long in north-south axis, which foreshadows the importance of processing the eastern facade
overlooking the extension of the street of small bridges (des Petits Ponts). In addition, this street
will host the tram, a road cyclist and pedestrian walkways. The extension of the street of small
bridges also leads to the Canal de lOurcq, hence the priority treatment landscaped plot to
accompany this urban landscape.
In our case, it is not just a building to integrate into its environment but rather to integrate a
piece of street, a facade composed of buildings and landscape.
The residence follows the urban plot which are two blocks divided by sharing landscape garden.

Competition winning student apartment complex in Paris, France by OFIS Arhitekti

Both parts are organized according to a simple and functional frame for a logical and economic
optimization. On ground floor are the lobby, the rooms, common areas opened over the course
and some studios (accessible for the disabled). Upstairs are all studios and a terrace.

The plans are organized according to simple management and maintenance. Also the task was to
provide students environment of indoor and outdoor quality with creating the meeting places in
which each student can feel good and enjoy the indoor and outdoor landscape. Access to the
residence is between the 2 buildings. For security and management reasons, there is only one
entry. We used the system of horizontal flow; taking into account technical constraints related to
sports complex vis--vis the main housing openings. The circulations are naturally lit and
ventilated, and allowing East-West views.
Studios_concept_sustainability
The residence comprises 192 studios. Studios are accessible to disabled persons on the ground
floor. All rooms are equipped with the same principle throughout the residence for better
optimization.
There is also studio with two bedrooms on each floor. There are seven in total throughout the
building, which used to meet expectations in terms of student housing for couples.
The concept key point is inside the studios: work on light and air quality and spaces.

Competition winning student apartment complex in Paris, France by OFIS Arhitekti: Concept +
circulations + facades
The accommodations are crossing, allowing for natural light throughout the apartment. The
design of housing was thought to offer comfort, brightness and functionality. The layout is
rational and allows modularity. The apartments are mechanically ventilated with a double shift

VMC. The breakdown by VMC is much more economical and offers students an air and a
healthy environment, necessary and vital for the smooth functioning of the individual. The
majority of the studios have a unique outdoor space with loggias which are actually an extension
of interior spaces. The loggias create intimate outdoor spaces and offer views of the surrounding
neighborhoods.
In view of the targets on energy performance, thermal insulation and soundproofing of the
building will be extra efficient. The isolation of the project is done by outside isolation 16cm
thick, to reduce heat loss. This insulation thickness makes the building very well insulated, while
opening large bay front to let maximum light into the apartments. This insulation is of course
both thermal and acoustic proof.
The structure of the building next to the wall of the SMR is insulated to prevent heat transfer
between the two structures, and of course acoustic insulation for the building site maintenance
To avoid the problem of thermal bridges of balconies and loggias we integrate the structure of
the elements of broken bridges thermal type SCHCK. It avoids thermal losses and especially
sustainable balance investment costs over time.
The Elevations
The facades will have a major impact on environment because of the length of the plot. The
eastern facade of the building looks towards the sport field, and is formed by main entrance
gang. The eastern facade is composed of loggias covered in bamboo. They appear on the cover
as wooden cocoons and are randomly oriented to diversify the views and rhythm to the facade.
The arrangement of the elements creates dynamic surface and breaks the scale of the building at
the same time.

Competition winning student apartment complex in Paris, France by OFIS Arhitekti: Program
The use of bamboo for the loggias has human scale and environmentally approach. The bamboo
is environmentally friendly material. The loggias are equipped with bamboo sunscreens to
control sunlight on the balconies and interior. Bamboo is also used on the western front as
horizontal blade to manage the sunshine of the passageway. At the same time it protects the
corridors from the sport field.
The climbing plants will be grown to serve as visual and environmental filters: In summer, the
facade will be refreshed by the thickening of the filter plant and in winter the facade work
normally, everything perfectly fits into the environment by creating seasonal facades.
The Structural Composition
The complex consists of two rectangular blocks. The first block dimensions are 30x11m and the
second 65x11m. The overall building rises at 29.2 meters.

Competition winning student apartment complex in Paris, France by OFIS Arhitekti: Section and
floor plan of a typical unit
The building structure is reinforced concrete. Foundations are types of piles, 12 to 15m deep.
They are connected by sills. The floors are rational and identical. They are made of reinforced
concrete floors on the 2-way and are supported by walls and poles. Both parts of the building
have its communication core which serves all floors. All the walls are reinforced with a thickness
of 20 cm.
The Landscape
the space between the two parts of the building will be used as a garden, which will have the
same functions than Parisian court in function to shift from one building to another, for meeting
and relaxation. It will be a common landscape, leaving a visual opening to the garden. The
garden is accessible from outside access for fire site of the SMR (magnetic card or key).
The garden located north of the plot has more private character but also provides transparency
with the street. It is used as a park on a small scale. Covered in wood, it is a place of relaxation
and calmness for students. This may be a place of rest or work. The garden is arranged in levels
to respond to the work of art that will be seen from the tram, but also to collect views from the
Canal de lOurcq or the surroundings with a panorama in altitude.

All green spaces (common and technical) are equipped with automatic sprinkler dropper, which
requires less maintenance manager of the residence and consumes much less water.
Accessibility for the Disabled
The building was designed to accommodate also disabled people and provide them the best
environment. The residence includes more than 10% of homes directly accessible for the
disabled (23 units). These accommodations are arranged on ground floor and first floor for easy
access and proximity to allow common areas, facilitating the social integration of individuals
with reduced mobility.
Images: OFIS Arhitekti