At number 17 of rue Rouquier, in the town of Levallois-Perret, north-west of Paris, a building has recently been renovated and now stands out with a new remarkable modern facade. The architecture of this office building, that dates back to the late eighties, has been reconsidered and two floors were added to the original structure. The building recovery project by real estate developer Foxy covers 1,750 square meters and was carried out by BXLMRS Architects. For the renovation of the facade, the architectural firm redesigned the main layout of the existing façade and created a grid pattern for it using three different materials: glass, aluminium and Corian® Solid Surface. The client and the architects were unanimous in their decision to use Corian® Exteriors, a solution based on Corian® Solid Surface, chosen due to its resistance, durability and aesthetic qualities. The manufacture and installation of the panels in Corian® Solid Surface was provided by Limeparts-Drooghmans.
Corian® Exteriors, a solution for the exterior cladding of buildings based on Corian® Solid Surface has been used for the new facade of a mixed-use building in Levallois-Perret, France; Project by BXLMRS Architects; photo Stéphanie Roland, all rights reserved.
Recovery work on the building was completed in July 2019. The structure consisted in two buildings connected by a corridor at ground floor level and the new architecture includes now two additional floors. . The challenge was to return to the building the same modern image that had characterized it during its construction in the eighties, while also increasing its surface area. The intent of BXLMRS Architects was to re-qualify the building by adding value to the existing construction that displayed a grid of concrete columns. The uneven surface of the concrete made it necessary to first carry out a 3D scan of the facade in order to determine the precise connecting points. Panels of Corian® Solid Surface in Glacier White colour were then installed onto the structure, maintaining the original architectural details.
Corian® Exteriors, a solution for the exterior cladding of buildings based on Corian® Solid Surface has been used for the new facade of a mixed-use building in Levallois-Perret, France; Project by BXLMRS Architects; photo Stéphanie Roland, all rights reserved.
With its almost infinite possibilities of design, Corian® has made it possible to enhance the geometric simplicity and obtain a very impressive grid layout with clean lines. Large windows that are almost square in shape complete the new open façade, which is visible from the public area. The windows also allow to increase interior comfort by providing a maximum quantity of natural light.
Today it is a building that includes offices and housing. The extension consisted in raising two additional floors, that have a metal structure, with the top one being at a slant to meet the requirements enforced by the Local Urban Plan regulations. From an aesthetic point of view, the characteristic consistency of Corian® Solid Surface provides visual continuity to the new five storey building. This modern material, that has been used for hundreds of innovative projects around the world, has contributed to the success of the project by BXLMRS Architects in their intent to maintain the building’s recognizable features and provide it with a contemporary identity.
Architect Lionel Bousquet, director of BXLMRS Architects, said: "I have many times walked past the Hotel Seeko'o in Bordeaux (the first ventilated façade in the world made using Corian® Exteriors, built in 2007, ed) and I could see that its appearance is still remarkable after more than a decade. This durability, combined with the resistance of Corian®, its mineral appearance and its consistency, are fundamental qualities for a facade. It is a versatile material that has very interesting returns."
For the building located in Levallois-Perret, the manufacture and installation of the panels in Corian® Solid Surface was provided by Limeparts-Drooghmans, a company that specializes in the production of ventilated facades.
For its building recovery project in Levallois-Perret, BXLMRS Architects have received a nomination for the Architectural Award from AMO (Architecture and Project Management), in the TransEuropArchi France-Belgium category, that aims to reward cross-border Franco-Belgian collaborations.
Corian® Exteriors, a solution for the exterior cladding of buildings based on Corian® Solid Surface has been used for the new facade of a mixed-use building in Levallois-Perret, France; Project by BXLMRS Architects; photo Stéphanie Roland, all rights reserved.
