In 2023, parisian architecture office Bien Urbain (Nicolas Cèbe, Jérôme Stablon and Guillaume Cantardjian) completed the renovation of 19 social housing units on rue Saintonge in the 3th arrondissement of Paris for the RIVP. Taking advantage of the post-and-beam structure of the façade, the architects created new types of housing, in particular by integrating through apartments and even triple apartments. At the heart of the project is a genuine effort to reuse the materials of the site: parquet flooring, radiators, glass blocks with a modenature, zinc roofing reused to protect the wooden window frames... nothing is lost, everything is transformed.

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How did the existing building influence the project?
Bien Urbain: First of all, the existing building contributed its qualities. Firstly, its location and massing, and then the design and materiality of its street façade. The restoration of this listed façade and the transformation of the courtyard façade naturally guided the design, as did the complete overhaul of the accommodation.

The construction method – post and beam structure and infill – has allowed the typologies to evolve and improve their habitability, which had deteriorated over time.

Finally, by reusing many of the materials in situ (parquet flooring, zinc, glass blocks,
radiators), the existing building has become a resource in itself, contributing greatly to the quality of the interior.

 

 

In your opinion, is renovation a guarantee of quality in housing?
Although renovation can make a significant contribution to the quality of housing, it is not a guarantee. Above all, it is necessary to have a good knowledge of what already exists, to understand its nature and qualities, so that the project is part of a heritage and continuity, both architectural and constructive.

Under these conditions, the renovation, which brings a materiality and a pre-existing quality, effectively becomes part of the quality of the dwelling and its place in the city. Moreover, the virtuous nature of renovation, through the great savings in resources it allows, is obviously a quality in itself!

 

What do you think social housing brings to architecture in France?
The high standards set by social landlords and their ability to support innovative approaches are an undeniable contribution to residential architecture. This ambition combines architectural quality with a particular focus on habitability, the use of environmentally friendly materials and the promotion of reuse.

In France today, social housing is a driving force in these areas.

 

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19 social housing units, 64 rue Saintonge, 4th arrondissement of Paris, France

Programme: Renovation of 19 social housing units, creation of new typologies and overall thermal renovation of the building.
Client: Régie immobilière de la ville de Paris (RIVP)
Architects and consultants: Bien Urbain – atelier d’architecture (lead architects), Nepsen Ingénierie (engineering)
Surface area: 1,320 sq.m net floor area
Construction cost: €2.75 million (€2,088/m2) excl. VAT
Calendar: 2016-2023

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Issue 460 of L’Architecture d’Aujourd’hui, dedicated to transformations in social housing, is available from our online shop.