Dareau La Sirène Pavilion and Madeleine Pelletier Youth Residence
Construction of a cultural facility dedicated to musical practice for « La Sirène » association and a Youth Residence with 51 accommodation units for students and young workers.
Rue Dareau is located in the Parc-de-Montsouris district in the 14th arrondissement of Paris.
It shows heterogeneous constructions, both in appearance and height (moulding, brick, plaster, continuous balconies, etc.).
The project plot is located in the extension of the Le Méridien building (its name comes from its geographical location) at number 20 rue Dareau. This plot is backed by the gable of the Méridien which rises 13 floors and develops a Y shape. Built by the architects Arthur Héaume and Alexandre Persitz in 1968, the care taken in this achievement remains visible in the choice of materials and in the planted spaces to provide breathing room for rue Dareau and rue Dubois.
Our architectural, volumetric and visual desire for this project is to integrate it into the composition of the district and in particular the Méridien with research into continuity and generosity while remaining sober. The building fits into the dynamics of the neighborhood and the planted composition of Le Méridien. The implementation of the project respects as much as possible within the Meridien template and preserve alignment.
With three orientations north/east, east and south/east, an existing building, on the ground floor, extended like an invitation to the intersection of Dareau and Dubois streets. It housed the “La Sirène” de Paris association created in 1874, one of the oldest independent amateur harmony orchestras in the capital.
The new building is redefined in the basement and partially on the ground floor for a quality cultural space dedicated and adapted to the musical practice of the La Sirène association.
This program is complemented by a service residence, “Youth Residence” with 51 studios for young professionals and students located on the upper levels. They participate in the functional diversity of the operation.
Leaning on the gable of the Méridien, the project rises over 3 basement levels and six floors. The ground floor follows the existing size by tightening on the R+1 to free up two inaccessible planted terraces and a large semi-sheltered accessible terrace. The upper floors from R+2 to R+6 develop in continuity and perfect alignment with the Meridian. Existing views of adjoining buildings are preserved. The green spaces are controlled and distributed over the R+1, R+5, R+6 and the roof.
Concrete made it possible to achieve structural feats: a 6-storey load transfer on a 6m high concert hall without posts, an identifiable treatment of the ground floor with bush hammered concrete and buffering around the window level.
Both façades and walls of concrete are structural.
For the envelope, this material allowed us to carry out different treatments on the facade: bush hammered concrete for the ground floor and smooth concrete on the upper floors.
This project was carried out to reveal materiality, light and space while considering the difference in program and their use. The skeleton of the building is perceived inside and out and transcribes a structural reality. The concrete, with its diverse forms and surfaces, plays with the light, seeking an emotion, it makes the facade vibrate and flirts with a structural sensuality.
Since its construction, we have noted a very good urban integration and great ease of operation and maintenance.
Thanks to the joint efforts of the company and the project management, the building is in continuity with Le Méridien.
