XTU architects builds multi-use complex in paris with a screen-printed glass façade

for their latest project, XTU architects presents ‘axiom’ – a multi-purpose building in paris that provides office, hotel and retail space. the project is conceived as a city entrance, but also a gateway to the thirteenth arrondissement. planned as a new neighborhood around a park, the proposal aims to represent the new aspirations of parisians, which is to create more biodiversity and bring nature back into the city.

all images courtesy of XTU architects

the development is planned by XTU as a series of ‘meandering volumes’, which offer landscape continuity. the volumes themselves are staggered as they are stacked on top of each other, allowing for planted terraces and cantilevers at the ends of the block. in this way, the monolithic scale of the architecture is broken up, reconciling with the domestic scale of the neighborhood.

the three program elements – comprising office, hotel and retail space – correspond to three perfectly identified volumes, one at each end and the third in the middle. the office architecture marks the city entry sequence and it is designed to be seen on a metropolitan scale, at high speed, with a great depth of field.

at night, the volume is reversed and transformed into a beacon of light and color thanks to a network of LEDs that are arranged at the rear of the screen printing on the façade, at 8 cm intervals. this creates a vibrant and dynamic urban screen, which could be made available to digital artists.

project info:

project name: axiom

location: paris, france

client: vinci immobilier

architect: XTU architects

program total area: 242,188 ft2 (22,500 m2)

office: 129,167 ft2 (12,000 m2)

hotel (200 rooms): 67,813 ft2 (6,300 m2)

retail: 45,208 ft2 (4,200 m2)

parking: 370 places

director project: cristina sanchez, dominique zentelin, andre terzibachian, delphine isart

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom