Paris 17°, Tour Bois le Prêtre - Druot, Lacaton & Vassal

I visited this this 16 storey 96 apartment block built in the 1960's on the Periphery Road in Paris, during its late phases of its renovation. Lacaton and Vassal have transformed the social and material fabric of this relic of post war, high rise housing. This avoids the demolition of the building, as well as proposing a sizeable extenstion to the living spaces.  (For more info:http://www.lacatonvassal.com/index.php?idp=56#)

 

 

 

Renovation in Progress 2011

Raymond Lopez - 1959 from http://www.lacatonvassal.com/index.php?idp=56#

Each floor is extended with a self-supporting steel structure that provides each flat with a winter garden type space, effectively doubling the size of the apartment and allowing views of the city which was limited by the small windows in the existing building.

The extra structure is made from pre-fabricated elements, allowing the residents to stay in their homes during construction works. This prevents the immediate rise in prices and gentrification that would occur if the whole site was redeveloped and residents bought off.