Herzog & de Meuron - Apartment Buildings on Rue Des Suisses

Competition. First Prize

Two distinct urban situations characterise the housing project in the 14th arrondissement of Paris: on one hand, the blocks facing the Rue des Suisses and the Rue Jonquoy and on the other, the courtyard with high fire walls at the back (îlot).

Our two apartment buildings on Rue des Suisses and the Rue Jonquoy are incorporated in the frontage, typical of housing blocks in many Parisian arrondissements. Verticals characterise the overall design of the relatively homogeneous façades of the adjacent buildings. As in most Parisian quarters of the 19th century, the street thus conveys a certain elegance despite the fact that the individual buildings are not particularly attractive. Our two apartment buildings with their folded frontage and folding shutters fit seamlessly into the vertical arrangement of the frontage. The folding shutters can be adjusted individually by tenants so that, in spite of the targeted homogeneity of the façades, the overall impression of their appearance varies. As in the neighbouring buildings, the flats are accessed via a central staircase, with a concierge checking the entrance on the Rue des Suisses.