Les Echelles de la Ville | Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura

A six-storey office building which plays an important part in the urban design of Antigone, in that it has to relate the new development with the city centre while compensating for a marked difference in level. A shopping centre had for a long time defined the city’s boundary with a blind wall which was opened up thanks to this project. The element which characterizes the new building is a monumental double flight of steps leading up to the terrace, which lies on the same level as the Place de la Comédie. The central door opens onto the lifts and escalators, which are also important means of access to the shopping. The wings of the building are occupied by offices, while the centre has a more commercial character. On the facade, the three orders are superimposed every two floors. The design here is a progression from a simple façade with a succession of axes on the lowest level, to a pilastered façade on the two subsequent levels, and a combination of both on the upper floors, which makes it possible to provide different readings while retaining the same vocabulary. The vegetation emphasizes the movement and the composition of the facade. Client: s.e.r.m Surface area: 11,000 m2