By: Nigel F. Maynard
Project: Saint-Denis Multifamily / Location: Saint-Denis, France / Architect: Dream / Location: Paris / Photography: Cyrille Weiner
The architecture firm Dream recently completed an urban renewal project in Saint-Denis that brings much needed change to neglected neighborhood Located on Rue Fraizier and Rue du Landy, this new residential complex marks a major step in the revitalization of the neighborhood after a tragic fire destroyed a dilapidated building 24 years ago.
As the first housing development under a French shared equity lease built in Saint-Denis, the building combines architectural ambition with harmonious integration into the urban fabric.
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“On the night of February 1 and 2, 2001, a deadly fire ravaged an old, rundown building on Rue Fraizier, exposing precarious living conditions,” the firm says. “Exploited by slumlords, this building symbolized substandard housing and the urgent need for urban transformation. Today, the neighborhood is undergoing regeneration toward greater inclusivity and well-being, more social diversity and more green spaces. The residential complex delivered by Dream embodies this renewed vision.”
Consisting of 44 housing units–22 social rental and 22 for social homeownership–the project aims to translate the qualities of individual homes into collective housing, with a specific typology for each unit. Most of the units are walk-through and multi-oriented, with high-quality outdoor spaces.
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Each unit complies with the new construction quality rules instituted by Plaine Commune and was designed with particular attention to usage and orientation. As a result, every unit is bright, comfortable and well-ventilated. “The units feature real entrance sequences with storage, kitchens with direct daylight that can be closed off if desired, and large panoramic windows,” the architects say. “All living areas are connected to a balcony or, on the ground floor, to a garden.”
Offsite–prefab–construction played a huge role in the project’s low-carbon footprint and its design. For the mixed wood-concrete structure, prefab construction directly led to a higher building and construction coherence.
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“All timber-frame façades, incorporating metal cladding, wood joinery, and deflectors, were fully manufactured in the workshop, ensuring optimal execution quality and precise detailing,” the firm says. “The balconies, made of self-supporting wood-metal structures, were also entirely prefabricated. Resting on staggered beam structures, they integrate elegantly into the whole, refining the façade’s silhouette.”
The project’s aesthetic is expressed through a rhythmic and graphic composition of volumes. The alternating use of raw materials on the façades — wood and metal — combined with the fine lines of wooden sunshades and balcony undersides softens the mass of the building and creates a visual lightness.
This interplay of materials and textures promotes a sensitive integration into the urban environment. The building’s shape, resulting from a morphological and environmental analysis of the site, ensures optimal management of sunlight and shadow while offering a wide range of outdoor spaces.
The housing block features a generous garden that is visible through two passageway lobbies that residents may access from Rue du Landy and Rue Fraizier. Nearly all the housing units benefit fully from this green lung. Moreover, the project places special emphasis on shared spaces, designed in collaboration with Plaine Commune Habitat to foster interaction and social diversity.
“The spacious and welcoming entrance lobby encourages residents to pause and meet,” the firm’s project statement says. “It is a community space. Rooftop gardens on each building provide areas for relaxation and social exchange. Through this project, the Dream agency offers residents a reimagined, safe and inclusive living environment.”
