01 - Morland Mixité Capitale

01 - Morland Mixité Capitale - David Chipperfield - 2022

17 Boulevard Morland, Paris

David Chipperfield (London, 1953) is a british architect who is known for his modern minimal designs. He leads the David Chipperfield Architects office since 1984, a winning award firm. Chipperfield has rarely worked in France before, with only two other projects of urban planning and retail design in Lyon and Paris respectively. The creation of Morland Mixité Capitale was the result of Réinventer Paris, an international competition in 2014 that called for proposals to transform 23 sites in the city.

The new ‘Morland Mixité Capitale’ is the result of the refurbishment and extension of the existing premises. Two new volumes facing the boulevard and the river, which mediate between the scale of the existing neighbouring buildings, contribute to the repair of the city. The volumes are raised above the ground to create a public axis that provides a passage from the boulevard to the river. This passage is characterized by load-bearing, vaulted arcades at ground floor level. Made from concrete, the arcades form a new grand entrance area for the complex, and help to visually soften the original gridded structure. This solution keeps the routes and views from the street to the river, as well as creating an airy and open system which invites passersby in. The complex houses a spectrum of usages: upscale and affordable housing, a hotel, offices, retail, a gallery, a food market and a childcare facility. The two top floors house an art installation, a bar and restaurant providing views over the capital.

Preserving the existing building not only ensures urban continuity, but also forms an essential component for the sustainability concept. With great respect for the existing fabric, it was repaired instead of being replaced wherever possible. Low energy and resource consumption are ensured, by an energy cycle based on heat exchange and a closed Phyto-purification system on the roof. The previously introverted complex was made accessible to the public, transforming it into a lively and open place and emanating a positive effect on the overall neighborhood. 20