MAAST: residence du maroc transforms paris' 19th arrondisement

MAAST’s residence du maroc transforms the 19th arrondisement
photo © cécile septet
all images courtesy of MAAST

in place of the demolished maroc tower, ‘residence du maroc’ stands proudly at the entrance to a public garden in paris’ 19th arrondissement. in 2008, french studio MAAST won the paris habitat-OPH competition to transform the dense city block. now complete, the project successfully transforms the square into a welcoming public space, and a social housing block of distinct geometries. overlooking the park to the north and street to the south, the building takes advantage of views with prefabricated wooden balconies clad in lacquered steel. a double skin of glass panels ranging from clear to translucent gray extends the eastern-most apartments outdoors. with its structural and circulation cores at the center of the building, units extend across its full depth. bearing walls are strategically located such that each of the 46 homes has an open plan and interior partitions can be modified as required by residents. the narrowing facade at the top floor modifies the composition of the upper units. the irregular pattern of balconies and thickened window treatments gives the building an organic edge, complementary to its garden context.

 
‘residence du maroc’ rivals the 1980s tectône tower
photo © cécile septet

(left): photo © hervé abbadie
(right): photo © cécile septet

transparent and translucent glass panels enclose the east-facing loggia
photo © cécile septet

a double skin extends the living space outdoors with a view of the garden
photo © cécile septet

interior partitions are not structural, so they can be removed and replaced as necessary
photo © hervé abbadie

upper floors are composed of intricate geometries
photo © hervé abbadie

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project info:

surface area: 3610m² nfa
cost of work: €5,750,000 excl. tax (28 plus loan, 18 pls loan)
duration of work: 22 months
completed: june 2013
client: paris habitat-oph
architecture: MAAST / isabelle manescau and françois marzelle
project manager: julien roman
environmental consultancy: franck boutté (study phase)
construction consultancy: sechaud et bossuyt
safety: socotec