ctrl
PICPUS residential building on Boulevard de Picpus in Paris, featuring a light natural stone façade, deep-set windows and landscaped terraces within an autumn streetscape.

PICPUS - Residential Building

Paris, France

Residential

A contemporary Parisian residence shaped by rhythm, depth and light, connecting the urban façade with the landscape of the Coulée Verte.

Located along Boulevard de Picpus in Paris, the project responds to two defining conditions: the continuity of the Parisian streetscape and the presence of the nearby Coulée Verte René-Dumont.

The building is conceived as a contemporary stone volume that belongs naturally to its context while establishing its own identity. Architecture and landscape are brought together through proportion, depth and planted terraces, creating a measured transition between the density of the city and the greenery beyond.

Location
Paris, France
Client
Private
Status
Design
Typology
Residential
Services
Architecture · Concept Design · Façade Design · Residential Design

Concept

Design concept

Rhythm, depth and landscape.

The design reinterprets the traditional Parisian façade through a precise modular grid. Deep-set openings create shadow and relief, allowing the elevation to change throughout the day as light moves across the stone.

A clear tripartite composition structures the building: an active ground floor engages the street, the residential levels establish a calm repetition of windows and loggias, while the upper levels step back to form planted terraces.

Rather than reproducing the historic city, PICPUS abstracts its fundamental qualities — proportion, rhythm, materiality and depth — into a contemporary architectural language.

Architecture

Diargrams
Axo
Elevation
GF and 1F and view of the facade
Other plans and view of the facade
concept and night view

Beyond sustainability

Sustainability

Landscape is treated as part of the architecture rather than an addition to it. Planted terraces extend vegetation vertically through the building, strengthening the relationship between the residences and the nearby green corridor.

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Deep window reveals provide passive solar protection while introducing daylight into the apartments. Durable natural stone gives the envelope longevity and reduces the need for frequent replacement, while the rational façade grid supports an efficient and economical construction system.

The approach is deliberately simple: use passive architectural principles, durable materials and landscape to create long-term environmental and spatial value.

  1. 01

    Passive solar control

  2. 02

    Integrated landscape

  3. 03

    Durable materiality

  4. 04

    Efficient modularity

  5. 05

    Daylight & wellbeing

  6. 06

    Long-term adaptability

Project information

Technical information

The building is organised around a rational structural and façade grid that coordinates residential layouts, openings, loggias and external cladding.

The envelope combines light natural-stone cladding with deeply recessed glazed openings, dark window frames and slender metal balustrades. Repetition of the façade module simplifies fabrication and construction while maintaining precise architectural proportions.

At the upper levels, setbacks reduce the perceived mass of the building and accommodate landscaped terraces. The resulting system combines architectural expression and buildability within a clear, repeatable construction logic.

Credits and recognition

Project credits

Team

  • Atelier NMA