Case Studies > Breaking through the Parisian Skyline

Breaking through the Parisian Skyline

Customer Company Size
SME
Region
  • Europe
Country
  • France
Product
  • Vectorworks Architect
Tech Stack
  • 2D Design
  • 3D Design
Implementation Scale
  • Enterprise-wide Deployment
Impact Metrics
  • Innovation Output
  • Brand Awareness
  • Customer Satisfaction
Technology Category
  • Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Visualization
  • Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems
Applicable Industries
  • Construction & Infrastructure
Applicable Functions
  • Business Operation
  • Facility Management
Use Cases
  • Building Automation & Control
  • Building Energy Management
  • Smart City Operations
Services
  • Software Design & Engineering Services
  • System Integration
About The Customer
HAMONIC + MASSON & Associés is an architectural firm based in France, known for its innovative and functional designs. The firm was founded in 1997 by members of the French Touch Association, a group that promotes architecture education and dialogue among architects. Over the years, HAMONIC + MASSON has received multiple accolades for their work, including the Architecture et Maître d’Ouvrage (AMO) 2011 Spécial Saint-Gobain award and a nomination for the Mies Van Der Rohe Award in 2003. The firm has 15 associates who work on various projects throughout France, including cultural facilities, schools, commercial buildings, offices, and residential projects. Their guiding principles focus on functionality for their clients while experimenting with classic architectural designs.
The Challenge
Over the last several decades, French law has imposed strict height limits to keep the historic and iconic skyline of Paris purposefully low. However, with the rising population, there was a need to amend these laws to allow for taller buildings. In November 2011, the Paris City Council amended the urban planning laws for the Massena-Bruneseau area, raising the height limitation on housing blocks from 37 to 50 meters. This change was seen as a historic move that would forever alter the landscape of Paris. HAMONIC + MASSON & Associés, an architectural firm, was one of the first to capitalize on this change, partnering with Comte Vollenweider Architects to design the ZAC Masséna Paris Rive Gauche high-rise. The project aimed to create a remarkable building that combined offices, private housing, social housing, and parking, while also offering beautiful architecture.
The Solution
HAMONIC + MASSON turned to Vectorworks Architect software to design the dual-towered structure of the ZAC Masséna Paris Rive Gauche high-rise. The project, which will be delivered at the beginning of 2015, is the first 50-meter-tall housing solution to be built in Paris since the 1970s. The design features two towers with 17 stories of public housing in one and 14 stories of privately owned flats in the other, combining for 200 units. Both towers rest on a common base filled with shops that open up onto the Avenue de France. The architects aimed to create a building that not only broke through the old height barrier but also bridged the divide between public and private housing. They were inspired by the concept of heliotropism, ensuring that the sun would always shine into some of the apartments due to the varied orientations of the towers. This design makes the interior spaces seem larger and more open to the bustling streets and picturesque riverfront outside.
Operational Impact
  • The ZAC Masséna Paris Rive Gauche high-rise is the first mixed-use high-rise to be built in Paris in over 30 years, marking a significant milestone in the city's architectural landscape.
  • The project successfully combines public and private housing, offering 200 units in total, and includes a common base filled with shops that open up onto one of the busiest areas of Paris.
  • The design emphasizes light and space, inspired by the concept of heliotropism, ensuring that the sun always shines into some of the apartments due to the varied orientations of the towers.
  • HAMONIC + MASSON's use of Vectorworks Architect software allowed for a seamless design process, combining 2D and 3D elements to create a functional and innovative building.
  • The project reflects HAMONIC + MASSON's guiding principles of focusing on functionality for their clients while experimenting with classic architectural designs.
Quantitative Benefit
  • The height limitation on housing blocks in the Massena-Bruneseau area was raised from 37 to 50 meters.
  • The ZAC Masséna Paris Rive Gauche high-rise includes 17 stories of public housing and 14 stories of privately owned flats, combining for a total of 200 units.

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