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Winning proposal in the City of Paris competition for the Denfert building, located at the site of the former Saint-Vincent-de-Paul hospital in the 14th arrondissement. The new 7,400 sqm building will mark the entrance to the new Saint-Vincent-de-Paul district, between Port-Royal and Denfert-Rochereau. It is part of a cultural centre that aims for artistic excellence and accessibility to all audiences with an international reach. The programme combines exhibitions, restaurants, and artistic events with artist residences, as well as commercial and social housing.
Anchored in local building patterns, the Denfert building steps back from the street in respect for the adjacent historical architecture. Like ancient ziggurats, the new building stands out, solid and with monochrome materiality. Located in the heart of the city, it occupies a prominent position within its neighbourhood and will create a new interface for the Parisian cultural scene. A preserved historic wall forms the base of the building and organises the rhythm of the façades as well as the coherence of the entire site. French window openings with shutters are arranged in a regular pattern to accentuate the relief and depth of the façade.
The ground floor is open to the public, featuring the main exhibition space with access to the upper-level restaurant and an underground communication hub. The volumetric setbacks create horizontal exterior spaces for each floor as the building programme gradually transforms upwards, with private homes on the top floors. The integrated and varied programmes cohabit within the flexible structure, simultaneously or separately, to ensure 24/7 occupation.
