Coignières, France

Designed by Louis Téqui and Bertrand Batoz of Atelier Téqui Architects, 300-Unit Social Residence in Coignières consists of a rehabilitation and extension of a social housing unit originally by Andrault and Parat that is representative of the rationalism of the Glorious Thirties. 

The plot, with an area of 11,135 square meters, is located to the far north of the town of Coignières on the border with the commune of Maurepas, on the other side of the street. 

The land is bordered by a commercial activity area on the Coignières side, and by a suburban area and offices on the Maurepas side.

The existing site hosts the hostel for migrant workers, realized by the architects Andrault and Parat. 

This set consists of two identical buildings to R+6 connected by a distribution core dating from 1972 and a car park. 

With its facade of prefabricated concrete panels, this building is representative of the rationalist architecture of the Glorious Thirties.

The rigor of the plan and the readability of its structure and organization make it an interesting support for rehabilitation rooms with current comfort standards.

The operation consists of the rehabilitation of the workers’ home migrants and its extension to 31 rue de Montfort l’Amaury in Coignières, which brings together 300 housing units. 

The geometry of the extension is in continuity with the existing building and generates an urban front on the street.

A new unit that is efficient in its operation and in connection with its urban environment is created: an entrance more open and more transparent offers a new face in the social residence, a first volume at R+4 forms a scale intermediate, and a second volume at R+3 more in length finds a more domestic scale. 

The articulation of these two new volumes presents a slight inflection treated in a hollow that sequences the building.

The operation was carried out on an occupied site in several phases, with successive moves to be able to maintain the activity of the home: Phase 1: construction of the extension; Phase 2: rehabilitation of part of the existing building; Phase 3: rehabilitation of the second part of the existing building; Phase 4: rehabilitation of the central core of the existing building.

The new building takes up certain characteristics of the existing building, such as concrete facades, the two colors emphasizing the geometry (basement and body of the building), and the rigorous composition of the façade. 

On the other hand, the new building differs from the existing one in the height and orientation of the built volumes, as well as in the geometry of window sizes.

The new building is constructed of mass-colored white concrete. 

A hollow joint sequences the volume at the level window sills.

Joinery and shutters are in aluminum in a warm amber hue, which contrasts with the minerality of cold concrete. 

The rehabilitated building consists of a façade in concrete panels, repainted to find a white color light reminiscent of the color of the white concrete of the extension. 

Stamped concrete, reminiscent of concrete grooves of the basement of the existing building, is used on the façade of the extension, stained in an amber tint. 

The parts of existing facades formerly red are repainted in the same color to allow together to find unity.

The new entrance hall is located at the interface of the three accommodation wings, equidistant from the bedrooms. 

Visible from the street, it also opens onto the green space of the heart of the island. 

The building articulates all the collective functions necessary for residents: social office, laundry, boxes letters, local OM, multipurpose rooms, and spaces for laundry. 

The hall gives access to the distributions, which are naturally lit.

The apartments are served by two staircases and an elevator, present in the extension, and by three staircases in a spiral preserved in the existing one. 

The accommodations are either facing east or west, or in a corner situation.

Project: 300-Unit Social Residence in Coignières
Architects: Atelier Tequi Architects
Original Architects: Andrault and Parat
Project Director: Louis Téqui
Project Leader: Bertrand Batoz
Engineers: GEC Ingénierie
Client: Private
Photographers: 11h45