Mount Paradis

Situation

The project involved simultaneously renovating the farmhouse and erecting a new building with several recesses to adapt to the slope.

Program

Terraced. The apartments, ranging from two-and-a-half to five-and-a-half rooms, are spread over five terraced levels to accommodate the steep gradient – the third level is on one level, on the north side. A basement section, including nineteen parking spaces, is linked to the first floor by an elevator.

Inside, the building is sober, clad in white with touches of color such as the elevator faces, landing doors and certain sections of wall. The apartments are of high quality and meticulously finished.

Externally, a forty-year-old neighbourhood plan imposed strict principles for integrating a modern building into an older built environment:

Many wooden elements were required, such as gable facades, sliding shutters, balcony railings, garage entrances and roofs clad with traditional tiles.

Project

Runoff. The project has come up against a number of constraints, apart from those imposed by building regulations.

The most important factor was the steepness of the terrain: nailed walls were used to create the various terraces, gabion walls to support the south-facing facades, hydroseeding and coconut fibre mats for the steep slopes.

Finally, located at the foot of the Châtaigniers cliff, the area is marked by water ingress, which can be significant. Buried areas had to be sealed and extensive drainage work carried out.

Design

At the foot of the cliff. Outdoor facilities include a playground at the foot of the cliff and ten outdoor parking spaces.

The solar panels that supply the building with hot water were also installed behind the building.