A Different Kind of Housing
Beyond the environmental imperative, converting offices into housing is undoubtedly an opportunity to offer a new way of living—one dictated by a singular reading of existing structures that transcends conventional briefs and standardized specs. Embracing single-aspect layouts, atypical floor depths, extraordinary ceiling heights, and a connection to the sky where ground-level open space is lacking means grounding the act of living and design in a different consciousness—one defined by pre-existing spaces.
Urban Logic
At a time when cities are undergoing a major overhaul of their land-use regulations, the urban reality of certain commercial buildings presents a remarkable opportunity to redraw administrative boundaries and fringe zones, reframing these assets within a new scope and dynamic.
This situation is currently unfolding across the Hauts-de-Seine department, where commercial developments from the late 1990s—located in attractive, well-connected areas—are now serving as a rich reserve for potential housing. High-quality projects currently underway demonstrate this shift. It acts as a powerful catalyst for revitalization within an urban landscape that often boasts breathtaking views, ground floors that are already well integrated into the neighborhood fabric, existing parking infrastructure, and—it must be emphasized—generous floor areas handed over to future residents. Furthermore, it unlocks precious real estate: land that is exceptionally rare when unbuilt, yet already developed (artificialisé). This reshuffles the deck for the economic model of private housing development, which has reached a breaking point.
From a different perspective, taking a commercial building set within an established streetscape or an inhabited city-center neighborhood offers a wonderful opportunity to introduce new typologies and breathe new life into architectural styles that might be considered dated, but have in any case become obsolete and outdated for modern corporate standards that must themselves navigate the energy transition. The project developed on Rue Dassault by Fresh Architectures is a prime example of this approach.
20th-Century Heritage
Choosing to rehabilitate and transform rather than demolish is, of course, an ecological commitment—something we can all agree on today. But it is also about consolidating a certain 20th-century heritage and bestowing value upon it. This heritage, while sometimes a true marker of an architectural era, is often dismissed as ‘ordinary.’ Demolishing it without re-examining it first would mean erasing it, risking a homogenization of our landscapes and an unwanted loss of identity.
Ultimately, I believe this added value places the architect/engineer pairing right back at the heart of the project. It is the combination of the architect’s vision and an understanding of potential technical interventions (which are often far from heavy—quite the opposite) that fuels the design of new ways of living and breathes fresh life into the phrase ‘building the city on the city.’ A rather uplifting thought, isn’t it?
« The late shift toward service-sector development during the 1990s in attractive, well-connected areas has today become a rich reserve for potential housing. »