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Architects: Brenac & Gonzalez & Associés
- Area: 16000 m²
- Year: 2020
Orange Headquarters / Brenac & Gonzalez & Associés
Jean Louis Étienne School / archi5
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Architects: archi5
- Area: 4250 m²
- Year: 2021
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Manufacturers: Carrière du Hainaut, Roof complex global roof, Silvabp, VMZINC
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Professionals: Cap Horn Solutions, Atelier Roberta, Alma Consulting
Can Green Roofs Make Our Cities Better?
Researchers credit the Hanging Gardens of Babylon as the first examples of green roofs. Although there is no proof of its exact location and very little literature on the structure, the most accepted theory is that King Nebuchadnezzar II built a series of elevated, ascending terraces with varied species as a gift to his wife, who missed the forests and mountains of Persia, their local land. According to Wolf Schneider [1] the gardens were supported by brick vaults, and under them, there were shaded halls cooled by artificial irrigation of the gardens, with a much milder temperature than the outside, in the plains of Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq). Since then, examples of green roofs have appeared all over the world, from Rome to Scandinavia, in the most diverse climates and types.
Nevertheless, inserting plants on roofs is still viewed with suspicion by many, as they are thought to be costly and difficult to maintain. Others, however, argue that the high implementation costs are quickly offset with savings in air conditioning and especially that occupying the building's fifth façade with vegetation is, above all, a rational solution. In any case, the question remains as to how green roofs can really help with climate change.
Open Air: New Ways We Can Live Together in Nature
“We need a new spatial contract." This is the call of Hashim Sarkis, curator of the Venice Biennale 2021, as an invitation for architects to imagine new spaces in which we can live together. Between a move towards urban flight and global housing crises, the growth of more low-rise, dense developments may provide an answer in the countryside. Turning away from single family homes in rural areas and suburbs, modern housing projects are exploring new models of shared living in nature.
Parfums Christian Dior Company Restaurant / Palissad Architectures
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Architects: Palissad Architectures
- Area: 2200 m²
- Year: 2020
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Professionals: Raphia, Toutes les cuisines Ingenierie, BEG Ingenierie, BATISS, Cogebat, +1
Rosa Parks School Complex / Brénac & Gonzalez & Associés
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Architects: Brénac & Gonzalez & Associés
- Area: 3900 m²
- Year: 2020
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Manufacturers: Wienerberger, Kawneer
More Daylight but Less Glare & Heat: How Does Automatically Tintable Glass Work?
In a 2016 survey of 400 employees in the U.S., Saint-Gobain found that office building occupants commonly complained about poor lighting, temperature, noise, and air quality, leading the company to deduce a need for improved lighting and thermal comfort in buildings while also maintaining low energy consumption and freedom of design for architects and clients. Their solution was SageGlass, an innovative glass created first in 1989 and developed over the course of the past three decades. The glass, which features dynamic glazing protecting from solar heat and glare, simultaneously optimizes natural light intake. A sustainable and aesthetic solution, SageGlass’ adaptability to external conditions dispels the need for shutters or blinds.
Media Library in Colombes / Brenac & Gonzalez & Associés
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Architects: Brenac & Gonzalez & Associés
- Area: 3060 m²
- Year: 2020
Divers(e) Cité Jardin Apartment Complex / Saison Menu Architectes Urbanistes
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Architects: Saison Menu Architectes Urbanistes
- Area: 19200 m²
- Year: 2018
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Professionals: Hexa Ingenierie
Romainville / Brenac & Gonzalez & Associés
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Architects: Brenac & Gonzalez & Associés
- Area: 10790 m²
- Year: 2017
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Manufacturers: AkzoNobel, Graniti Fiande, La Seigneurie, OberSurfaces, Ref
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Professionals: Qualiconsult, Acoustique & Conseil, Batiplus, Effinergie, Biotop, +6
MOdA Headquarters of the Paris Bar Association / Renzo Piano Building Workshop
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Architects: Renzo Piano Building Workshop
- Area: 7150 m²
- Year: 2019
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Manufacturers: UniFor
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Professionals: SLETEC, RFR, META, NAMIXIS, Origoni & Steiner