Tapping into Haussmannian ingenuity

Thoughtful and “simple” upgrades to the Haussmannian ingenuity of the Îlot Victoria and Îlot Saint-Martin building complexes enable the site to evolve, without demolition or architectural oversteps. This minor renovation project wholeheartedly embraces the guiding principle of the philosopher Paul Virilio: “Consider the past from the future.” As such, building facades, with their rich ornamentation and abundance of decorative elements, are preserved. Through greenery and countless possible uses, the courtyards of these buildings once again form spaces of connection. Four landscapes are nestled into the courtyards. Inspired by forest habitats, these landscapes create cool islands and bolster the neighborhood’s green infrastructure (opening up the Tour Saint-Jacques tower square, greening Avenue Victoria, etc.).

The Victoria Complex court of honor: A forest island. A hardscape frame unifies the Victoria Complex courtyard, establishing a shared urban space while providing the surfacing necessary to accommodate movement, terraces, and movable street furniture. A forest island grows in the middle of this frame, featuring deciduous species perfect for filtering light year-round. This permeable courtyard is as much lived in as it is crossed through. Designed in the style of Parisian passageways, the three porches open onto the surrounding city (the Parvis de l’Hôtel de Ville city hall courtyard, Avenue Victoria, and Quai de Gesvres quayside). These porch-passageways connect users to ground-floor businesses, as well as certain upper-floor facilities.

The Rue de la Tacherie street contemplative garden. In the courtyard of the western wing of the Victoria Complex, paving is removed and the ground level lowered to create an in-ground naturalistic garden. The topography of the courtyard, combined with the openings through the surrounding porch-passageways, make this pocket garden visible from the street. In this humid and shaded space, the garden emerges in layers among limestone rocks: undergrowth plants, ferns, multi-stemmed plants, and a moss garden. The result is a lush oasis that enhances the residential units while connecting the various facilities.

The Rue de la Tacherie street terraces: A sky-high meadow. A partly-accessible rooftop terrace blooms atop the new structure overlooking the western courtyard of the Victoria Complex. Blanketed with a subtle flowering meadow, the terrace provides a counterpoint to the lush forest environment below. The level landscape of the meadow highlights the clean lines of the building.

The Saint-Martin Complex intersected garden. The Saint-Martin Complex, a unifying urban space, is accessible from all sides. The interior green space becomes connected to the Pont Notre-Dame bridge, Quai de Gesvres quayside, and Avenue Victoria, while maintaining both a human scale and a sense of privacy. Low, gentle slopes are added in order to plant a scattering of trees and masses of hardy, shade-loving shrubs. These pockets of greenery are visible from the buildings and offer visitors an immersive experience in nature.