From Haussmann to Sullivan

Moving toward the bioclimatic metropolis, the Avenue de France project by Parc Architectes for Icade combines density and quality of life through what could be called a climatic ornamentation of architecture. This 89-unit housing development, located on block M9A, is built on a network of beams spanning directly over the railway tracks of Gare d’Austerlitz. The suspended structure — combined with an innovative timber framework — addresses three major challenges: an unbuildable underground area, limited point loads spaced 6 m apart, and seven technical shafts, one of which measures 24 m². The CLT structure rests on a high-performance timber frame with solid slabs and a spring-based anti-vibration system, a first of its kind. The apartments, wrapped around smoke-extraction shafts, unfold into continuous wooden balconies equipped with adjustable louvers that regulate light, heat, and air — a simple yet effective bioclimatic principle. This climatic writing extends to the façade: 60 % glazing, adjustable shading, and generous outdoor extensions that expand living spaces into the open air. The custom-molded ceramic cladding, fixed on a timber substructure, revives the pioneering spirit of Louis Sullivan. Each piece, ribbed with rounded profiles, expresses structural rigidity while integrating rainwater drainage. Developed through an on-site technical assessment, this system expands the potential of timber construction. The design draws from Gothic architecture, weaving together shade, slenderness, and light. Volumetric fissures, suspended green terraces, and a permeable ground-floor passage open the block to the city. Where trains once passed, a lush inner garden now emerges — a connective space between residents and students from the nearby University of Chicago campus.

Press kit upon request