sou fujimoto's 'arbre blanc' tower in montpellier photographed by iwan baan

photographer iwan baan has documented ‘l’arbre blanc’, a 17-storey mixed-use tower in montpellier, france. the project was designed by sou fujimoto, who worked alongside three other architects: manal rachdi, nicolas laisné, and dimitri roussel. although the structure primarily accommodates residential units, it also contains a glazed ground floor with an art gallery, a restaurant, and a rooftop bar with panoramic views.

photo: iwan baan (also main image)

called ‘l’arbre blanc’, a name that translates as ‘the white tree’, the tower’s balconies and terraces appear as branches allowing residents to maximize time spent outdoors. each apartment has an external space that measures at least seven square meters (75 square feet), while residents of the tower’s duplex apartments can move from one balcony to another. meanwhile, the cantilevered terraces have been conceived as spacious outdoor living rooms that take advantage of montpellier’s mediterranean climate.

photo: iwan baan

however, the protrusions also help from a sustainability standpoint. the generously proportioned balconies and terraces serve as a protective veil that shields the façade from the region’s hot sun. they also provide shade for other residents and promote better air circulation. as part of the project, sou fujimoto, manal rachdi, nicolas laisné, and dimitri roussel sought to integrate public space with an accessible rooftop bar and the extension of a park along the adjacent river. see designboom’s previous coverage of the project here.

photo: iwan baan

photo: iwan baan

project info:

name: l’arbre blanc
location: montpellier, france
architects: sou fujimoto architects, nicolas laisné, dimitri roussel, and OXO architectes
status: complete
photography: iwan baan