An elevated wooden youth hostel at Place de la Nation in Paris

In February, Linkcity Ile-de-France handed over the keys to Just Like Home of this 1.100 m² off-plan program, which has the particularity of having been built above a Casino supermarket, which remained in operation for a long time. much of the work.

Indeed, taking advantage of the completion of the construction of this youth hostel, Immobilière Groupe Casino has awarded Linkcity Ile-de-France a real estate development contract for the renovation of its commercial space located on the ground floor. The delivery of this Casino supermarket, carried out simultaneously with that of the new complex, enabled residents to discover these new places which actively participate in the life of the neighborhood.

“Alongside our customers and partners, we want to help develop sustainable, resilient and caring cities. For this, it is up to us to find levers of action such as here, Place de la Nation where the use of wood has been the solution reconciling architectural elegance and a low carbon footprint, two subjects that are close to our hearts ”, Laurent Mourey, Managing Director of Linkcity Ile-de-France.

To meet the challenge of developing a youth hostel on top of an existing building, i.e. an elevation of five floors, Linkcity Ile-de-France opted for a wooden construction (spruce), carried out by the teams of Bouygues Bâtiment Ile-de-France with the support of the wood expertise center of Bouygues Bâtiment France Europe, WeWood. The choice of this construction method has many advantages, the main one being the low carbon impact of the project. The lightness of the wood material, combined with its speed of installation, made it possible to achieve this height increase in a short period of time, while maintaining a clean site and limiting nuisance. An essential point for the many residents! The use of wood has also allowed a better coactivity between a large-scale construction site and the lively neighborhood life of a flagship Parisian square.

“A CLT solid wood structure makes it possible to create elevations on the existing frame and thus enhance it. It is also, of course, a determining weapon in the carbon battle, a battle in which we are fully invested. Our experience in this area has enabled us to provide Linkcity Ile-de-France with advice and know-how on this great project on the Place de la Nation. "Daniel Lopes, CEO of Bouygues Bâtiment Ile-de-France - Habitat Social.

To succeed in inserting a new construction into a strong historical architectural ensemble, the JBMN Architectes agency, winner of the architectural competition launched by Linkcity Ile-de France, and the Architecture Pelegrin agency, have worked in respect and in harmony with the surrounding frame. Volumetry of constructions, rhythm of levels, choice of materials, selection of colors ... Everything has been designed to offer a contemporary architectural style, respectful of the existing architectural language.

On the square side, the facade is an extension and alignment of the Haussmannian buildings that surround it, the size and arrangement of the openings being deliberately inspired by the neighboring facades.

At the rear of the building, the facade unfolds on an open courtyard which preserves vis-à-vis. Most of the rooms will be placed in noble spaces, while vertical circulation as well as service areas such as luggage storage will be positioned on the courtyard side.

The architects also thought about the organization of flows. Thus, each entity has its own access. Entrance to the youth hostel for clients, staff and logistics is independent; a street number separates it from the supermarket doors.

As for the rooftop bar-restaurant, guests of the hostel but also the general public can access it via a lift located in the lobby of the hotel area.

This set will be operated under the “Les Piaules” brand, a company specializing in “new generation hotels” which celebrates “Made in France” by promoting French know-how to young foreign tourists.

The youth hostel has 192 beds in 39 rooms. The first three levels of the residence are occupied by collective rooms which can accommodate from four to eight people. The next floor is reserved for double rooms, some of which are accessible to people with reduced mobility, with private bathroom.

On the top floor of the building, the restaurant terrace offers a panoramic view of the square, one of the major urban places in the east of the city.