42up School Extension

In the heart of Paris's 17th arrondissement, AR Studio d'Architectures has completed 42UP, a radical extension of École 42 that doubles its capacity while minimizing its footprint.

Architectural Strategy: Building Upon the Existing. Rather than starting from scratch, the architects preserved the existing building, adding four base volumes and a five-story metal superstructure rising 18 meters above.

The original structure, built in 1962 on land cleared from Paris's demolished fortifications, specifically Bastion 42, adds symbolic resonance to the digital campus.

The third floor, beneath this beam, is column-free, creating a spectacular balcony overlooking the city.

A Perforated White Lace. A white perforated metal skin unifies old and new, contrasting with the original black facade while creating visual harmony with neighboring NOC42 dormitories.

Double-height glazing units measuring 2.34 x 2.34 meters punctuate this metallic veil, establishing rhythmic architectural language.

The facade becomes alive, its transparency varying with weather and time, creating ever-changing dialogue between interior and exterior spaces.

An Urban Ecosystem. 42UP functions symbiotically with the NOC42 complex - a Réinventer Paris competition winner - offering 700 beds across Boulevard Bessières.

This interconnected ecosystem represents a new model for urban educational infrastructure, where living, learning, and leisure spaces coexist seamlessly within the city fabric.

Vast open floors replace enclosed classrooms, with peripheral circulation and alcoves behind staircases offering intimate spaces for concentration or collaboration.

Street art, orchestrated by curator Nicolas Laugero Lasserre, animates four main staircases, transforming vertical circulation into artistic journeys.

These interventions provide intuitive orientation while enriching student experience, turning necessary movement through the building into moments of discovery and inspiration.