Quai d'Austerlitz

Remodeling of an office building, Paris (FR)

The project to restructure this building, located in the ZAC Paris Rive Gauche, near the Seine and Gare d’Austerlitz, is a response to urban renewal. Built in 2003, the U-shaped building, with a 9 m difference in level and an inconspicuous reception hall, was used as offices and trading rooms on eight floors. The Cro&Co agency imagined an aesthetic and functional multi-use transformation, with the emphasis on sustainability and harmonious integration into the existing urban fabric.

The repositioning of the building in its neighbourhood begins with the repositioning of the lobby on Avenue de France. The base of the building becomes a multi-purpose space for occupants and the neighbourhood, with a foyer, a Meeting Centre, a restaurant and a patio. The reconfiguration of the lobby leads to a geometric simplification of the building, offering flexible office space. The attic becomes a belvedere with double-height spaces and panoramic terraces.

The façades are designed to maximise natural light while reducing energy consumption, with the addition of vertical sunbreakers. The dynamic composition of the façades creates an interplay of shadows and reflections, while the base promotes transparency with extra-clear glazing and wooden joinery. The environmental approach includes landscaped areas, certifications such as WELL V2 Silver, BREEAM RFO 2015 Excellent, HQE BD 2016 Excellent, the BBCA label, and compliance with the Paris Climate Plan.