Image courtesy of XTU Architects

“In Vivo” project for Reinventing Paris competition for ‘Paris Rive Gauche, district 13’.

BPD Marignan and XTU Architects, associated with SNI Group and MU Architecture, will put up flagship buildings, clear proof of the integration of living matter and nature in the city. This genuine laboratory-building located on Boulevard des Maréchaux in the 13th district of Paris, will feature an active biofacade housing microalgae culture for medical research.
In view of the environmental and health impacts due to the soaring hyper-urbanization, the ending of fossil resources and rising inequalities, cities are facing a major issue of the 21st century: promoting social mix and openness between citizens and integrating nature into cities, to achieve a fairer, more sustainable and resilient society.

Image courtesy of XTU Architects

As a first step, the In Vivo project addresses this issue by creating an architectural and programming environment to foster porosity, social and functional mix, meetings and sharing among inhabitants, users, neighbours and Parisians of the Grand Paris:
– creation of three different buildings focusing on natural views, exposures, lighting and ventilation, as well as an optimal urban integration;
– 13,000 m² for home ownership, intermediate housing and residence for students and young researchers;
– 1,200 m² for a third place open to all-comers;
– 255 m² for an alternative café;
– and more than 2,000 m² for vegetable and regular gardens.

Image courtesy of XTU Architects

The In Vivo project is meant to be a manifesto for the innovative urban integration of nature and living matter with three buildings for humans and one for earthworms:
– the Tree House: growing trees and bushes suited to host urban biodiversity on large flower box balconies on all its facades
– the Plant House: dedicated to all forms of vegetable gardens and small-scale urban agriculture in loggias, under greenhouses or outdoor on rooftops
– the AlgoHouse: integrating a microalgae-producing biofacade for medical research
– the Lombric House: raising earthworms to allow the vermicomposting of inhabitants’ organic waste and culture conditioning.

more. www.reinventer.paris