Social Housing in Angers

Social Housing in Angers
© Nicolás Borel

SOCIAL HOUSING IN ANGERS

Studio Bellecour Architects

ARCHITECTS
Studio Bellecour Architects

CATEGORY
Social Housing

LOCATION
Angers, France

AREA
8042 m²

PHOTOGRAPHS
Philippe Caumes, Nicolás Borel, Willy Berr

YEAR
2010

Social Housing in Angers
Courtesy of Studio Bellecour Architects

The project sets within a mission of movement and punctuation.

Social Housing in Angers
Courtesy of Studio Bellecour Architects
Social Housing in Angers
© Willy Berr
Social Housing in Angers
© Willy Berr
Social Housing in Angers
Courtesy of Studio Bellecour Architects

With this framework, a typological approach seeks to combine the urban scale of the street with its surrounding area.

Social Housing in Angers
© Philippe Caumes
Social Housing in Angers
© Philippe Caumes

The project maintains the necessary “boundaries” between the building and the street while taking into account the area’s density.

Social Housing in Angers
© Philippe Caumes
Social Housing in Angers
© Philippe Caumes
Social Housing in Angers
© Nicolás Borel

The result produces an intimate residential atmosphere while maintaining the autonomy of the individual units, which break away from the standard “concrete block” and its the negative stereotyping.

Social Housing in Angers
© Nicolás Borel
Social Housing in Angers
© Nicolás Borel
Social Housing in Angers
© Nicolás Borel

Thus the project is organized into a gathering of buildings sectioned in rhythm with the urban design :

Social Housing in Angers
© Nicolás Borel
Social Housing in Angers
© Willy Berr
Social Housing in Angers
© Philippe Caumes
Social Housing in Angers
© Nicolás Borel
Social Housing in Angers
© Philippe Caumes
Social Housing in Angers
© Willy Berr

- A well-handled gap separates the structures so that their individuality is maintained, yet they all have corresponding foundations so that a single and continuous reading of the urban landscape is achieved.

Social Housing in Angers
© Willy Berr
Social Housing in Angers
© Willy Berr

- Transparencies and visual escapes produced by the gap between structures finds focus in the patios distributed among the large street-facing apartments.

Social Housing in Angers
© Philippe Caumes
Social Housing in Angers
© Willy Berr
Social Housing in Angers
© Willy Berr
Social Housing in Angers
© Willy Berr
Social Housing in Angers
© Willy Berr

These patios initiate a smooth transition between public and private areas.

Social Housing in Angers
© Philippe Caumes
Social Housing in Angers
© Nicolás Borel
Social Housing in Angers
© Willy Berr

- In slight contrast to the regular rhythm of the buildings, a dynamic ensemble of rooftops tipped with slightly asymmetrical angles house attics for the apartments.

Social Housing in Angers
© Nicolás Borel
Social Housing in Angers
© Nicolás Borel
Social Housing in Angers
© Nicolás Borel
Social Housing in Angers
© Willy Berr
Social Housing in Angers
© Willy Berr
Social Housing in Angers
© Willy Berr
Social Housing in Angers
© Nicolás Borel

The project flirts with false symmetry and vibrations established by slight variations of a serial logic.

Social Housing in Angers
© Willy Berr
Social Housing in Angers
© Willy Berr

Moreover, the urban dimension earns its place amongst the strong goals of the urban project in Angers: - A united front is presented from the ground (e.g., from Banchais street).

Social Housing in Angers
© Willy Berr
Social Housing in Angers
© Willy Berr
Social Housing in Angers
© Willy Berr

One section settles there, bordering Marguerite Legros street, which in turn crosses the existing block (image 1).

Social Housing in Angers
© Nicolás Borel
Social Housing in Angers
© Willy Berr
Social Housing in Angers
© Nicolás Borel
Social Housing in Angers
© Philippe Caumes
Social Housing in Angers
© Nicolás Borel
Social Housing in Angers
© Willy Berr

Where the street makes two building façades face each other between two breaks, perspectival depth is created along with a connection forged between the two sides of Le Gouz street.

Social Housing in Angers
© Willy Berr
Social Housing in Angers
© Willy Berr
Social Housing in Angers
© Nicolás Borel
Social Housing in Angers
© Nicolás Borel

- From Deux Croix boulevard, an initial plot (image 2) creates a rhythm along to which the first section of the building responds visually.

Social Housing in Angers
© Nicolás Borel
Social Housing in Angers
© Nicolás Borel
Social Housing in Angers
© Nicolás Borel

The sequence ends roughly a dozen meters behind this section, Le Gouz 2. Distant dialog pulls the project towards the town so that the two feel more united.

- In Banchais street, the question here is of the same scale as the neighbouring buildings, as the street is mainly made of pavilions.

Social Housing in Angers
© Philippe Caumes
Social Housing in Angers
© Philippe Caumes
Social Housing in Angers
© Philippe Caumes
Social Housing in Angers
© Philippe Caumes
Social Housing in Angers
© Philippe Caumes

This transition lies on a singular element, such as a section (image 3) which would shift to find once again the alignment of the street and neighbouring buildings.

Social Housing in Angers
© Philippe Caumes
Social Housing in Angers
© Philippe Caumes
Social Housing in Angers
© Nicolás Borel


Social Housing in Angers
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Social Housing in Angers
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Social Housing in Angers
render 01

Social Housing in Angers
render 02
Social Housing in Angers
render 03
Social Housing in Angers
render 04


Social Housing in Angers
plan 01
Social Housing in Angers
plan 02