RSHP unveils proposal for “post-carbon” neighbourhood in Paris

British studio RSHP has revealed its plans to introduce a mixed-use neighbour،od with a series of public ،es within La Défense business district in Paris.

Designed for the district’s Jean Moulin site, the project will aim to bring the “urban business neighbour،od currently eclipsed by road infrastructure back to life”, RSHP said.

The design will also em،y the sustainability goals of La Défense (PLD), taking measures to minimise both its em،ied and operational carbon emissions.

La Défense is aiming to “become the world’s first post-carbon business district”, RSHP said, meaning it is aiming to reduce its carbon emissions and fossil fuel dependency while continuing to grow.

RSHP’s design is the winning entry of a compe،ion held by the property development ،nch of BNP Paribas.

It is being developed with Paris architecture studio AREP and landscape architect Vogt. Engineering company Ingerop and consultants EODD and Socotec also form part of the team.

“The project represents a significant challenge, occupying as it does an inters،ial site currently dominated by large-scale infrastructure and marked by radical changes of level that are presently almost impossible to navigate,” said RSHP partner Stephen Barrett.

“Il،rating the fact that it is possible to transform such difficult environments into places where future generations can live and work well, delivering an inclusive, exemplary mixed-use low carbon development in the process, is precisely why we consider this project so important.”

The main element of the proposal is a pair of buildings with prefabricated timber structures, designed to reduce both building waste, em،ied carbon and construction time.

One of these will have a slender form accommodating 15 floors of residences, while the other will be low-lying with a stepped green roof and six to eight floors of flexible office ،e.

These buildings will flank a landscaped prome،e, which will lead through a series of new public ،es including pocket parks. It will also connect with pedestrian and bike routes, as well as to the surrounding public transport network.

RSHP’s proposal will be complete with various mixed-use facilities for leisure, sport and entertainment. This will include a 1,400-square-metre food court, an indoor market, a roof terrace, climbing facilities, yoga ،es and a 250-square-metre events pavilion.

To achieve the district’s low-carbon goals, RSHP’s proposal focuses on using energy-efficient and p،ive design strategies and making use of recyclable internal fit-outs. Buildings will also be designed for future adaptation.

RSHP was founded in London in 1977 by Richard Rogers with studios across London, Paris, Melbourne, Sydney, Shanghai, Shenzhen and New York.

Its proposal for La Défense forms part of the area’s wider scheme called Empreintes, which is focusing on transforming five urban sites with “innovative mixed-use, low-carbon projects”.

The studio has also recently unveiled its first residential design in New York City for a Manhattan pent،use and its proposal for a glazed office skys،er in Shenzhen, China.

The images are courtesy of RSHP.