Cartoucherie housing block by Manuelle Gautrand in Toulouse, France

The Cartoucherie neighbourhood in Toulouse is extremely ambitious, with each component of 21 different volumes pasted together when necessary for alignment and disconnected when transparency and porosity are expected. A play of height reinforces the variety of scales, and most vertical connections are in the open air with generous terraces to the entrance of the apartments.

There are two types of facades on this building - one made of luminous and clear metallic sheets, and the other made of dark and opaque metallic sheets. The former is for the "daily rooms" like the living room and kitchen, while the latter is for the "nightly rooms" like the bedrooms. Each window is arranged in a way that allows for privacy while still letting in natural light. At the heart of the island, the block is a private garden, which serves as a peaceful oasis for the inhabitants.