34 social-housing units in Bondy | Atelier du Pont

The context in which these 34 social-housing units were developed is typical of Paris’s suburban fabric, which generally comprises fairly densely built single-family houses of very disparate character. These dwellings in Bondy follow the “classic” model for an apartment building in what was a medium-sized operation on a medium-sized plot of land. It had one “extra”, however, being blessed with beautiful trees. We designed our project around this natural feature by creating a tree-filled central courtyard with balconies in staggered rows, offering everyone a direct view of the sky and greenery. Our design for this small “collective” building is intended to blend in perfectly with the surrounding suburban fabric. Access to the apartments progresses gently: a common gateway for both cars and pedestrians serves the two entrance halls, after which one crosses the garden. The development is set back from the street and plays on the familiar image of suburban houses in both its roof profile (which segues uninterrupted into the façade) and the marked contrast between the building’s “front” and “rear” on the street and courtyard.