Transforming Spaces: Moussafir Architectes and Petra Blaisse's Collaboration at 5 Rue du Vertbois

In the bustling Marais district of Paris' 3rd arrondissement, a mixed-use commercial building has recently undergone a stunning transformation. Designed in the 1970s by Biro Fernier, the 10-level reinforced concrete structure has been converted by architect Jacques Moussafir into a dynamic space that now houses both offices and flats.

The building's original open-plan floors without intermediate columns provided a neutral and generic framework that served as the basis for the renovation. Moussafir's team took a holistic approach, using the existing structure as a guide for the insertion of interior elements such as staircases, guardrails, and floor and ceiling coverings. They also carefully considered the choice of materials and the details of their implementation in the envelope.

Working in collaboration with Amsterdam-based Inside Outside studio, Moussafir's team added a striking exterior feature to the building. A 10-meter high curtain façade, designed by Inside Outside and inspired by the silhouette of a Portuguese laurel, gives the building a new lease on life. The façade covers the building's exterior and is suspended and dissociated from the concrete structure, highlighting the load-bearing role of the original shell in relation to the "borrowed" feature.

The transformation of this building demonstrates the power of creative collaboration and innovative design in reinvigorating commercial spaces. The mixed-use nature of the building, with both offices and flats, adds to its versatility and appeal. As the Marais continues to grow and evolve, this stunning building stands out as a testament to the beauty of architectural reinvention.

Inside Outside, the renowned architectural firm has once again demonstrated its expertise in textile architecture through its latest project at 5 Rue du Vertbois. The project involves the transformation of a single-purpose commercial building into a mixed-use space comprising both offices and flats.

The signature feature of the project is the shade curtain that stretches across the exterior of the glass and steel facade. Comprised of four independent parts, the curtain unfolds over the four street-facing levels. Its purpose is to filter natural light and views while also cooling interior spaces. At the same time, it dialogues with the building's architecture, putting the finishing touches on the facade's composition.

The undulating movement of the curtain can be controlled on each floor, as well as the lighting effects across the entire surface of the PVC mesh, thanks to the discrete integration of LEDs. The circular perforations on the mesh define the outline of the tree, making it permeable to the wind while also casting playful swathes of natural light into the interior. The solid blue-grey colour of the Portuguese laurel is consistent across all five floors of the building. The curtain is operated through a motorized system with integrated sensors.

The building's rationality of the pillar and beam system enabled the transition from a single-purpose to a mixed-use building superimposing housing with offices. The decision to expose the structure provided the incentive to not differentiate the dwelling spaces from the offices and to design the flats like offices. This decision also demonstrates the multi-purpose aspect of an ordinary structure.

The project also highlights the building's modernist principles, such as open plans, grids, and facades open to the north, and ribbon windows to the south. Its brutalist aesthetic is enhanced through the emphasis on materiality.

Overall, Inside Outside and Moussafir Architectes have once again proven their prowess in textile architecture and the transformation of single-purpose buildings into mixed-use spaces. The project at 5 Rue du Vertbois is an excellent example of their innovation and attention to detail.

CREDITS

Program: Commercial office building and 3 flats

Project management: Moussafir Architectes (Jacques Moussafir with Virginie Prié, Estelle Grange-Dubellé, Pierrick Fromentin, Mélanie Hébrard and José-Maria Goncalves)

Structure engineer: Malishev-Wilson (Philip Wilson avec Ghyslain Protois)

Fluids Engineer: Louis Choulet (with Thibault Charles)

Project managers: exterior curtains - Inside/Outside (Petra Blaisse with Peter Niessen)

LOCATION: FRANCE - PARIS

DESIGNERS: MOUSSAFIR ARCHITECTES, INSIDE OUTSIDE / PETRA BLAISSE

PROJECT YEAR: 2023

PHOTOS BY: VINCENT LEROUX, HERVÉ ABBADIE