300-Unit Social Residence in Coignières by Atelier Téqui Architects

Atelier Téqui Architects has masterfully redesigned and expanded the 300-Unit Social Residence in Coignières, France, integrating contemporary architecture with sustainable social housing solutions. The project, spanning 5,900 m², is located on a prominent 11,135 m² plot at the northern edge of Coignières, bordering the commune of Maurepas. The surrounding environment blends suburban residences, office spaces, and commercial areas, making it crucial for the architecture to respond to both urban scale and community needs.

The existing structure, originally built in 1972 by Andrault and Parat, functioned as a hostel for migrant workers. It featured two identical R+6 buildings connected via a central distribution core and a car park. Its prefabricated concrete panel façades and rationalist design principles provided an excellent foundation for rehabilitation, offering clarity, structural readability, and adaptability for modern living standards.

The project encompasses both rehabilitation and extension, resulting in 300 residential units. The extension respects the geometry and scale of the existing buildings, generating a cohesive urban frontage while introducing two new volumes with slightly differing heights. The first, at R+4, offers an intermediate urban scale, while the second, at R+3, emphasizes a more domestic and approachable human scale. A subtle inflection between the two volumes organizes the massing and articulates a welcoming, dynamic streetscape.

Executing this project on an occupied site required meticulous phasing. Four phases ensured continuity of operations: construction of the extension, sequential rehabilitation of the existing buildings, and the refurbishment of the central core. This careful sequencing maintained resident access while upgrading the living conditions to modern comfort and sustainability standards.

The architectural approach balances variety and unity. The extension echoes the existing concrete façades with dual-color treatments emphasizing geometry while differentiating through height, orientation, and window proportions. The extension employs mass-colored white concrete for durability and aesthetic quality, complemented by amber-colored aluminum joinery that contrasts warmly against the cool mineral tones. The rehabilitated concrete panel façades are refreshed in a light white tone to harmonize with the new volumes, and stamped concrete grooves on the extension reference the basement textures of the original structures.

The residence’s new entrance hall serves as a central hub, linking the three accommodation wings while providing a transparent and open interface with the street and internal green spaces. This space houses key communal functions, including a social office, laundry facilities, multipurpose rooms, and mailboxes, all naturally illuminated for a welcoming environment.

Residential units are efficiently organized with access through two new staircases and elevators in the extension, supplemented by three preserved spiral staircases in the existing building. Apartments are oriented east, west, or corner-facing, ensuring optimal daylighting and cross-ventilation. The design prioritizes comfort, natural lighting, and adaptability for future community needs.

Through sensitive rehabilitation and thoughtful expansion, Atelier Téqui Architects has transformed the Coignières social residence into a contemporary, energy-efficient, and socially responsive living environment. The project exemplifies innovative urban integration, sustainable material use, and architectural harmony between historic structures and new interventions.

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