vib architecture arranges concrete cylinders for silo 13 in paris

vib architecture arranges concrete cylinders for silo 13 in paris
photo © stéphane chalmeau
all images courtesy of vib architecture

located in a developing district in the eastern periphery of paris, vib architecture has completed ‘silo 13’, a cement distribution center composed of cylindrical concrete towers. while some of the tubular forms are necessary for functioning of the industrial processes, architects bettina ballus + franck vialet have continued the use of silo elements to house offices, circulation, and quality control spaces. polygonal-shaped aluminum windows are scattered throughout the building’s surface, and are intended to reference broken stone geometries.

two wide silos are complemented by a narrow tower and two horizontal tubes containing support spaces
photo © stéphane chalmeau

the complex’s two wider silos function for the industrial processes of the plant, and are joined by three narrower cylindrical forms. among the latter, a vertical tower contains vertical circulation, a ground oriented horizontal bar houses the quality control room, and an elevated and kinked tube contains office spaces.

a uniform treatment of concrete references the building’s use as a cement plant
photos © stéphane chalmeau

‘silo 13’ is the first among a series of works serving to develop the bruneseau nord site, located along one of europe’s busiest freeways. during the early design stages, a change in height limitations from 50 meters to 37 meters widened the complex’s larger towers to a diameter of 20 meters, nearly filling the allowed space. the following arrangement allows for the passage of industrial trucks, as well as linkage between technical and support spaces.

the office tube is elevated on inclined posts to allow for the passage of industrial trucks
photos © stéphane chalmeau

the project utilizes various techniques for achieving its uniform concrete structure. the larger silos and the vertical tower were cast in slipform, where a singular casting form slides upward to be used in sequential pours. moving at an elevation change of 2.5 cm per hour, this overall process took 3 weeks. on the other hand, the shells for the horizontal tubes were prefabricated, and subsequently trucked-in, lifted, rolled, and fitted within 24 hours for each entity.

metal windows of polygonal geometry break the monolithic concrete surfaces
photo © daniel moulinet

the office silo form is enclosed by glass on its ends
photo © daniel moulinet

photo © daniel moulinet

the project is the first among a series of works serving to develop the bruneseau nord site
photo © stéphane chalmeau

photo © stéphane chalmeau

‘silo 13’ sits adjacent to one of europe’s busiest freeways
photo © stéphane chalmeau

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project info:

city: paris (13)
site: bruneseau nord, zac paris rive gauche
date of completion: april 2014
client: semapa
user: ciments calcia
architecture: vib architecture / bettina ballus + franck vialet
design architects: antoine bourdeau, marlène bourque, célia horn
construction architect: celia horn
construction cost: 18 m€ (excl. tax), for buildings + process
site surface: 4,478 sqm
sustainable certification: plan climat ville de paris
engineering + construction method and coordination: jacobs france
acoustics: peutz & ass.
façade design consultant: arcora
contactors: sogea TPI (buildings) – IBAU hamburg (process)
photography: stephane chalmeau, daniel moulinet