Vaugirard Social Housing by Christ & Gantenbein: A New Model for Urban Living

Reinventing Social Housing in Paris

Vaugirard Social Housing, the first completed project by Christ & Gantenbein in Paris, redefines affordable housing with a large-scale residential development in the 15th arrondissement. Designed to integrate urban infrastructure with high-quality living spaces, this project sets a new precedent for sustainable social housing in dense metropolitan environments.

Blending Infrastructure with Community Living

Located above a remodeled subway maintenance workshop, developed alongside Dominique Lyon Architects, this unique housing complex brings new accessibility, community engagement, and urban diversity. By introducing a new pedestrian-friendly street, previously inaccessible areas of the city are now seamlessly connected, reinforcing the project’s role in enhancing Paris' urban regeneration.

Architectural Strategy: Volume and Facade

Collaborating with Margot-Duclot Architects, Christ & Gantenbein drew inspiration from extensive research on Parisian housing typologies conducted at ETH Zurich. The design focuses on optimizing natural light, ventilation, and spatial fluidity, while respecting traditional Haussmannian architecture.

The façade presents a rhythmic composition of setbacks and recesses, creating an animated visual identity. Prefabricated wooden elements lighten the concrete structure, reducing environmental impact and construction costs. Wrapped in steel with a transparent varnish, the façade pays homage to classic Parisian rooftops, seamlessly blending modernity with historic context.

Innovative Residential Design

The 124-meter-long complex houses 104 apartments, designed under the logement à vie model. Residents benefit from:

• Diverse apartment layouts (from studios to five-room units)
• Column-free, open floor plans enhancing spatial fluidity
• Balconies or loggias for every unit, promoting indoor-outdoor living
• Natural ventilation strategies improving energy efficiency

The inclusion of unheated loggias, excluded from the calculated square footage, provides additional living space, improving thermal comfort and overall housing quality.

A New Paradigm for Social Housing

Vaugirard Social Housing prioritizes community, sustainability, and inclusivity, demonstrating that affordable housing can be both architecturally refined and socially responsible. By integrating green building principles, urban connectivity, and high living standards, this project exemplifies a forward-thinking approach to modern urban housing.

All Photographs are works Walter Mair, Florent Michel