prismatic glass crown by maud caubet architectes extends racine office tower in paris

Dynamic Green Tower Reimagines Brutalist Landmark in Paris

Maud Caubet Architectes completes Racine project in Paris‘s 12th arrondissement for Alderan (SCI EWOK), that transformed the former headquarters of the Office National des Forêts (ONF), a 35-meter-high brutalist tower built in 1970, into a dynamic and adaptable mixed-use structure. Located near the Sorbonne Nouvelle campus, the Racine project is set in a predominantly residential area. Originally designed by architects Deschler, Thieulin, and de Vigan, the tower reflects a time when urban development relied heavily on slab construction, often resulting in artificialized ground levels. The renovation aimed to reclaim fertile soil and reintroduce nature to the site, balancing densification with renaturation.

The original plan for a graduated garden evolved into terraced landings, flowing naturally from the basement to the first floor. These curves integrate with a 175 sqm productive green roof, creating a cohesive ecological environment despite the project’s urban density. Two levels of the building’s five underground parking floors were repurposed into light-filled, high-quality living spaces. A curved patio, 12 meters deep, further enhanced this transformation by linking interior spaces with the terraced garden.

all images by ©Laurent Kronental unless stated otherwise

MAUD CAUBET ARCHITECTES engages in adaptable design

The new contemporary extension wraps around the building, blending with the original brutalist design while preserving the tower’s unique silhouette. Designed with future adaptability in mind, the structure minimizes the cost and scale of potential future modifications. Its repetitive slab-post grid and strategic placement of vertical circulation ensure reversibility, enabling the tower to accommodate offices, housing, coliving spaces, or even student housing with minimal structural adjustments. Double-height extensions and a bioclimatic greenhouse further expand the building’s functionality, enabling it to be a place for work, study, leisure, gardening, and living—all at once.

The architects at Maud Caubet replaced the former 10th-floor attic with a timber-framed glass crown housing a bioclimatic greenhouse. This luminous space, accessible to all building users, supports educational urban agriculture and features a public café. At night, the greenhouse transforms into a glowing lantern, offering panoramic views of Paris and serving as a landmark for the local community.

Racine by Maud Caubet Architectes revitalizes a 1970 brutalist tower in Paris’s 12th arrondissement

a timber-framed glass crown houses a bioclimatic greenhouse atop the structure

the contemporary extension preserves the tower’s brutalist silhouette while adding modern functionality

the 35-meter-high tower stands as a dynamic mixed-use structure | image by ©Fabrice Fouillet

underground parking levels were transformed into light-filled, high-quality living spaces | image by ©Giaime Meloni

terraced landings and a 175 sqm green roof bring ecological cohesion to the site

a 12-meter-deep curved patio connects interior spaces to the terraced garden | image by ©Giaime Meloni

the renovation aimed to reclaim fertile soil and reintroduce nature to the site | image by ©Fabrice Fouillet

the luminous greenhouse supports urban agriculture and features a public café

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masterplan

flexible plan - housing

flexible plan - offices

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perspective section

project info:

name: Racine Tower
architects: Maud Caubet Architectes | @maud_caubet_architectes

location: France – Paris – 12th District

area: 6.081 sqm

client: Alderan

project management assistance: Etyo

project manager architect: Arnaud Housset

project manager & general contractor: Nina Maeno

design team: Pauline Reysset, Nastasia Thiriet, Thomas Jacques

construction company: Fayat Bâtiment

landscape design: Payet

agricultural greenhouse operator: Topager

cost consultant: SCB Economie

structural engineering: Structureo

acoustic engineering: Clarity

MEP And HVAC engineering: ATEC

safety consultant: CSD Faces

building inspection: BTP Consultants, Arcora, Effectis

photography: Laurent Kronental | @laurentkronental, Jean-François Dary Colonna | @jf_dc.photography, Fabrice Fouillet | @fabricefouillet, Giaime Meloni | @giaimemeloni

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom