Renault makes way for urban development The commune of Boulogne-Billancourt bears the stamp of a belief in progress. Once the cradle of car manufacturing on the Seine island of Seguin, it was converted to accommodate business services in the 1990s. This resulted in the demolition of the Renault car plants on the island and along the river bank. In 2009, be baumschlager eberle won the competition for the development of a site on the Avenue Emile Zola. The novelist’s name reflects the aim: to perpetuate the late 19th century city. A block perimeter development with inner courtyards has been selected to generate a classical urban feel. How have be baumschlager eberle addressed this familiar motif? The characteristic features of the new development are density and transparency. The site is to be developed along modular lines with a strong impact being achieved by the height of the buildings. Three offices blocks are to be erected here. The slender proportions of the southernmost block at the corner of Rue Marcel Bontemps create the impression of a tower, while the other buildings with their stepped upper levels are a pointer to the depth of the avenue. The buildings are connected by bridges with ...
Renault makes way for urban development The commune of Boulogne-Billancourt bears the stamp of a belief in progress. Once the cradle of car manufacturing on the Seine island of Seguin, it was converted to accommodate business services in the 1990s. This resulted in the demolition of the Renault car plants on the island and along the river bank. In 2009, be baumschlager eberle won the competition for the development of a site on the Avenue Emile Zola. The novelist’s name reflects the aim: to perpetuate the late 19th century city. A block perimeter development with inner courtyards has been selected to generate a classical urban feel. How have be baumschlager eberle addressed this familiar motif? The characteristic features of the new development are density and transparency. The site is to be developed along modular lines with a strong impact being achieved by the height of the buildings. Three offices blocks are to be erected here. The slender proportions of the southernmost block at the corner of Rue Marcel Bontemps create the impression of a tower, while the other buildings with their stepped upper levels are a pointer to the depth of the avenue. The buildings are connected by bridges with ...