Pushed Slab Paris by MVRDV Architects, Parisian Office Building, Pictures, Design

Pushed Slab Paris Building

Parisian Spec Office Building Development, France design by MVRDV Architects

page updated 6 Nov 2016 with new photos ; 27 Nov 2014

Pushed Slab in Paris

Design: MVRDV architects, with North by Northwest

MVRDV complete the Pushed Slab, energy efficient office building

ICADE Promotion Tertiaire and MVRDV have completed the Pushed Slab office building at ZAC Gare de Rungis in the 13th arrondissement of Paris.

The seven storey building with a surface of 19,000 m² is the first realisation of Paris’ first eco-quarter with a low energy consumption and an energy production of appr. 90 MW/year. The building has been acquired by Banque Populaire Rives de Paris.

The building has two faces: a calm side in dialogue with the urban fabric of the north side of Paris, and a more dynamic side facing south, rectangular to the boulevard.

The building is wrapped in a skin of wood. The windows form a rhythmic ribbon, offering optimal sun and light control of the inner spaces. To contribute to the sustainable development and taking the impact of deforestation into account, FSC certified wood is used.

Winy Maas, principal architect and co-founder of MVRDV, says “Pushed slab is an exemplary combination of high energy efficiency, economic reality and architectural quality. This emerged from an ambitious client, ICADE, and a city with a long-term vision.

The added demand of a preserved view line gave the project its exciting shape, it now respects the surrounding neighbors and it opens up its heart for a collective meaning”.

The “Pushed Slab” is the first realization of Paris’ first eco-quarter. 264 photovoltaic panels on the roof will generate 90 MW/year and a grey water circuit will be applied. 22 solar thermal collectors will generate 45% of the energy needed to heat the water. Sun blinds are integrated in the south facade and in the cuts. The building is insulated from the outside in order to reduce thermal bridges.

The accumulation of these proven reliable techniques results in a highly efficient low-energy building which leads to an energy consumption of 46 kWh per m²/year achieving a BBC Effinergie energy label and complying with the objectives set out in the “Plan Climat de la ville de Paris”.

The building is designed by MVRDV in cooperation with local architect North by Northwest, in a joint effort with the engineering and advisory firms Arcoba (Saint Denis), Terrell, Vanguard, Alto and contractor Eiffage Construction, and interior design firm Métope Architectes on behalf of Banque Populaire.

Photographs: Philippe Ruault

Pushed Slab, Paris

Design: MVRDV with North by Northwest

Building Type: Spec. Offices

The Pushed Slab is located between two completely different urban grids: the dense city fabric of blocks and streets in the North and the loose urban fabric in the south with its clear defined and straightforward infrastructure.

The design is based on the requested office program and the energy requirements. The project combines proven energy efficiency technologies with individual office floors and outside spaces such as patios, balconies and a garden. The building is highly flexible offering three cores and a central lobby; it can be rented out to one or various tenants without structural changes.

The building is located on a former rail embankment of approximately 4.150m ². The volume follows the site restrictions, a slab shaped volume of 150 m long and 21 m wide. An opening in the volume preserves the view of a historic building. To create this urban window and to enhance the urban quality of the neighbourhood, the slab is “pushed” until it breaks, then twisted and pushed to the south.

This pushing act creates a distortion of the floors, offering multiple terraces which can be directly accessed from the work areas as well as from the external staircases. The urban window offers a large terrace on the second level. The terrace and the balconies will be furnished with trees planted in large pots, offering employees a friendly environment to relax.

The building has two faces: a calm side in dialogue with the urban fabric of the north side of Paris, and a more dynamic side facing south, rectangular to the boulevard. The building is wrapped in a skin of wood. The windows form a rhythmic ribbon, offering optimal sunning and light control of the inner spaces. To contribute to the sustainable development and taking the impact of deforestation into account, certified wood from France will be used.

The climate is controlled by natural ventilation; 1500m2 solar panels on the roof provide renewable energy and a grey water circuit will be applied. Blinds will be integrated in the south facade and in the cuts. The building will be insulated from the outside in order to reduce thermal bridges. The accumulation of these proven reliable techniques results in a highly efficient low energy building which leads to an energy consumption of 49 kWh per m2 per year.

The project is part of the ZAC Gare de Rungis development, according to the mayor of the arrondissement Jerome Coumet “The first Eco-quarter of Paris, the first presented and the first to be completed.”

The building is designed by MVRDV in cooperation with local architect North by Northwest, in a joint effort with the engineering and advisory firms ARCOBA (Saint Denis), Casso, Terrell, Vanguard and Alto, all located in Paris.

images from architects

ICADE Promotion is a major player in the French property market and a listed real-estate company, subsidiary of the Caisse des Dépôts, which carries out business activities in property investment, development and related services in the offices, business parks, shopping centres, public-healthcare amenities and housing sectors.