Built in 1961 in Paris’s 8th arrondissement, near Place Beauvau and the Élysée Palace, 8 Rue de Penthièvre consists of two buildings separated by a garden. The complex features a beautiful green space—a rarity in Paris on this scale—and exceptional panoramic views from its terraces. These underutilized assets present significant opportunities given the evolving standards for office spaces—which are becoming increasingly high-quality in Paris—as well as the property’s prestigious and accessible location. However, the building had not undergone any restructuring or modernization since its construction. The complex required a major renovation project to restore the technical and functional qualities essential to a contemporary office building. Although its layout was relatively functional, bringing it up to safety standards and optimizing circulation were nevertheless essential. Its obsolete equipment was highly visible on the roof, and the austere, outdated facades offered poor thermal performance and visual comfort. The challenge was thus to breathe new life into the building to meet the needs of modern businesses and contribute to the capital’s appeal.
Architectural and Landscaping Approach
To address these challenges, PCA-STREAM developed an ambitious architectural and landscaping approach. It builds on the strengths of the existing buildings to preserve views of Paris, while creating redeveloped outdoor spaces with accessible entrances for everyone. The project improves safety and accessibility and makes the building’s operations more transparent. Available floor space is maximized, while optimizing its layout to offer great flexibility and divisibility. The spaces are grouped and streamlined around a central courtyard, providing natural light to the office floors and meeting spaces on the first basement level. The garden and its landscaping have been completely redesigned and treated as an extension of the interior spaces. Roof-top equipment has been removed to create an open, aesthetically pleasing space. Numerous green terraces on the facades allow building occupants to fully enjoy the views.
A New Architectural Landscape
The façade on Rue de Penthièvre has been realigned and redesigned according to a highly contemporary geometric grid, which gives the façade a more dynamic appearance through the interplay of light and shadow. The street-level ground floor has been redesigned as a double-height space, opening the building back up to the city and providing views into the gardens. This open level is organized around a large patio featuring a reception hall, waiting areas, and a monumental staircase. It also houses the building’s dining area, a contemporary café that opens physically onto the hall and visually onto the city. Relaxation areas, including an e-lounge café and a working café, are situated near the terrace of the large patio and the garden. These spaces and services cater to new, more informal, innovative, and creative ways of working. The project is conceived holistically in terms of architecture, landscape, and usage. Vegetation is treated as a full-fledged architectural element to create a rich and diverse ecosystem at the heart of this office complex. Abundant, dense, and climbing, visible from throughout the building, it embodies, in its symbiosis with the architectural design, a new relationship with nature within an urban space.
