Renovating and extending this building of the early 20th century, typical example of the Canal Saint-Denis’ banks, has been a real challenge. Immortalized by Robert Doisneau in his famous 1945 photograph, it has since gone through decades and undergone several transformations. Its strategic location, between the Canal and the uptown, makes it an essential landmark of the riverside for the strollers.
Dedicated to social housing, a contemporary extension with a wooden structure has been added to the refurbishment project. This new part of the building grows at the back of the existing block.
Both parts have been conceived in the idea of a permanent dialogue where the connection between their own identities enriches the global project. The intervention aims at conserving the historical aspect of this industrial neighbourhood, but also expressing the great mutations the Saint-Denis territory is now going through. According to this main idea, windows have been made into the blind façade of the “Fluvial Public Domain”, in order to complete the new connection with the Canal.
In the interest of saving financial and material resources, we have privileged the reuse of existing features, and have chosen to deconstruct only what was necessary. The original bricks have thus been restored and reused. The extension is built in wooden frame for all the advantages it has : prefabrication, dry construction site, no chemical treatments, reduction of waste and noise.
