Studios signs a prestigious new address for Groupama Immobilier in the heart of Paris

This ambitious approach to recycling existing buildings was carried out by STUDIOS to transform a private mansion from 1875 benefiting from a magnificent facade and a building from the 1920s which had lost its initial quality. The restructuring was an opportunity to make the most of two architectural heritages by providing a contemporary response and creating a new coherent, attractive ensemble adapted to new uses.

A technically complex approach, which demonstrates how heritage can be renewed by reinventing itself to participate in the construction of a resilient city.

For François Godard, Associate Architects at STUDIOS Architecture: “Tandem illustrates the new generation of offices. Located in the heart of Paris, anchored in its history, completely transformed to adapt to the new uses of today and tomorrow. »

Unlocking the potential of an exceptional heritage

Former headquarters and manufacturing workshops of the Manufacture Française de Tapis et Couvertures, the site has been magnified and remodeled by STUDIOS to reveal all its assets and create a little architectural gem. A place with Parisian elegance where fluidity and transparency invite discovery.

Socially active

The ground floor has been completely redesigned to create a dynamic crossing base which connects the two buildings together and simplifies flows thanks to new connections. The bright halls offer a friendly welcome to users and visitors, from the two entrances, avenue de Messine and rue de la Bienfaisance; meeting and training rooms as well as a “workcafé”, a privileged meeting and exchange space, visually connects the street and the interior courtyard garden.

Interior courtyards

The former courtyard of the Messina mansion was freed of its elevators and its facades were completely opened to create an interior patio which brings light and transparency to all levels. This skylight is closed on the first floor by a new glass roof which creates a double-height hall letting in natural light. The central courtyard, freed from its beams and reconnected to the interior spaces, by the widening of bays, now offers an accessible plant heart, a true haven of peace for this new address. The existing gallery on the second floor overlooking the courtyard was doubled on the ground floor to create connections between the two buildings. This connection is clad in a new largely glazed facade which creates views of the courtyard and helps to open up and connect the interior and exterior spaces.

Reconnection to the street

Avenue de Messine, the architects have restored its place to the large double-height porch. Previously dedicated to vehicle access, it has regained its function of monumental access allowing a glimpse of the animation of the base and thus subtly attracting curiosity from the street. Rue de la Bienfaisance, the removal of the sills on the façade made it possible to reconnect the heart of the site to the street while contributing to the liveliness of the public space. All of the facades have been renovated to preserve their heritage and their integration into the urban environment.

Green terraces

Tour de force of the project: the transformation of part of the old zinc roof of the private mansion to create a 170 m² terrace fully accessible to all and entirely green. The creation of a new connection with the terrace of the Bienfaisance building made it possible to create a panoramic rooftop of nearly 360 m² with a view of the roofs and monuments of Paris.

Open and bright trays

Thanks to targeted interventions STUDIOS was able to maximize surface areas while enhancing their organization.

• Differences in levels on the same floor have been eliminated to improve the fluidity of circulation and the readability of spaces.
• The transformation of the courtyard into a patio made it possible to bring natural light to the heart of the platforms while creating transparencies which promote visual connections and liven up the spaces.
• Stairs, elevators and toilets have been refocused to completely free up the platforms for the benefit of new work spaces which offer great flexibility.

Thought out down to the smallest detail, the site breaks with its original tortured appearance to be enriched with multiple harmonious and coherent living spaces, to be explored with great fluidity.

Workcafé for working alone or collaborative mode, individual offices, meeting and videoconference rooms, interior courtyard, furnished terraces or even fitness room... the variety of spaces is adapted to different uses, according to needs and times of the day .

This rare environment, imbued with an atmosphere as warm as it is prestigious, attracted the future buyer, the KWERK company, which offers exceptional offices in the heart of Paris and has chosen to add this new address to its offering.

The building benefits from an exemplary environmental approach with the use of bio-sourced materials for insulation.

Deconstructions have been minimized and only concern 25% of the existing surface area with the demolition of the half-floors to allow coherence to be found between the two buildings and place it in the future.

To reduce energy consumption, a bioclimatic approach was favored with exterior and interior blinds and the creation of the patio with openings allowing natural ventilation. The site has also been connected to urban heating and cooling networks which use renewable energies.

The basements and parking lots have been enhanced by being connected and transformed into work and well-being spaces, with a fitness room and a future yoga room. Soft mobility is encouraged with the creation of a large bicycle room. Finally, the project promotes the reuse of materials, including lighting fixtures, cable trays, tiling and earthenware.

The project is HQE Highly Performing Sustainable Building certified and will benefit from the BBCA label.

key information

• Location: 16. Avenue de Messine - 45, rue de La Bienfaisance, Paris 8
• Surface: 4.600 m²
• Delivery: February 2024
• Certifications: HQE High Performance
• BBCA label
• Client: Groupama Immobilier