christophe rousselle completes 'courbes' residential towers north of paris

french architect christophe rousselle completes ‘courbes,’ a project comprising 134 apartments in colombes, a suburb north of paris. the development is part of the urban renewal program of a wider neighborhood that is easily identified thanks to its eclectic architecture, blending bungalows and apartment houses dating from to the 1980s and 1990s. with its proximity to the business district of la défense, a new tramway has finally reached the neighborhood, enabling the beginning of its transformation.

image © takuji shimmura

designed by christophe rousselle, ‘courbes’ comprises two buildings with large and double-height shops on the ground floor. the project restores the boulevard’s atmosphere of alignment while bestowing visual lightness in its upper floors thanks to the suppleness of its interlocking volumes. the important variations in the project’s height envelope and floor plan result from the presence of setbacks on every floor, which make it possible to offer rich volumes according to the surrounding context. the core of the city block benefits from the creation of a pedestrian alleyway lined with over 30 parasol pines. meanwhile, the residential building is clad in a shining annealed stainless steel, which amplifies the perception of the greenery and light within the block.

image © takuji shimmura

with its 134 apartments, the project signals the town’s entrance while the volumes give each apartment a distinct character of their own. the development introduces a new density to the area, respecting the comfort of all at the same time. each floor has been designed in accordance to its specific location, while complying with the orientation, the neighboring structures and the volumes of the floors above and below. the massive appearance of the building is mitigated by the presence of balconies — between reflection and transparency — offering open sky exterior spaces. over two kilometers of curved glazing were required to complete the project.

image © takuji shimmura