The Clichy-Batignolles area stretches 53 ha into the North-Western part of Paris. The former rail wasteland has been turned into a spacious 10 ha park designed by Jacqueline Osty, around which the new urban center, connected to the rest of the city by bridges and urban transportation, is being developped.
Two main lines of research are inherent to the project: to turn the office building into a major actor in the city and, in parallel with this attempt at opening a dialogue, to break the uniformity while preserving the qualities of the area.
Sitting on the railway slab ten meters above the soil, the building is entirely detached from the ground, as if it were levitating. From the sides, Seasons appears as a 16-meter wide long body of double-orientation offices. The west façade borders the SNCF railway coming out of Saint-Lazare station and constitutes a shield against the noise pollution produced by rail traffic. Borderd by a bridge on the one side and by a pedestrian bridge on the othe, the operation is the sign of a new entrance way for the Clichy-Batignolles area.
The north facade presents a series of 4 buildings arranged in comb formation, providing natural light to the offices.
These office spaces rise up to the 7th level of the building. On the ground floor level, the glazed double-height lobby seems to be moving towards the sidewalk. The various businesses present on the site connect the building to the street and its passersby, its movement and its energy. On the first floor, a company cafeteria extended by vegetalized balconies will serve up to 1.050 meals per day. On the 7th floor, the pleated roofs create meeting spaces extented by 300m² of terraces offering a panoramic view on the city from the south side, and on the park from the north side.
In compliance with the requirements specific to the sustainable development policy of the area, high class construction and thermic techniques have been integrated to the project since the design phase: solar pannels, cooling systems, water treatment… 21 000m² of offices and businesses built on a slab managing to overlook the need for air conditionning, Season is an innovation lab holder of a double certification: HQE Exceptionnel and BREEAM Excellent.
“We have to leave some things to chance and serendipity, make some space for the unknown and not for banality. Season, just like the city, calls for joy and celebration! Batignolles is beautiful and intense. It’s not part of a world that is organized and regulated, but rather of a world where our differences ought to be shared and where creativity and curiosity are encouraged. And all the actors of this project were pleased to join this ethical journey.” Jean-Paul Viguier says.
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