Reviving an architectural “gem”

Originally built in the early 1930s to house a postal and telecommunications exchange, the building had been altered by successive interventions. Drawing on in-depth historical research and a close collaboration with the Paris heritage authorities, we restored the building by leveraging its intrinsic qualities.

The project highlights the architectural features that had survived while redefining those that had been lost over time with particular care given to the brick façades and joinery.

The building’s base, previously fragmented, became the starting point for a major spatial reconfiguration. The ground floor and basement were redesigned into a cohesive whole, coherent with the scale of the building. Both horizontal and vertical circulations were reorganized to bring natural light into spaces that were previously very dark.

The concrete structure is revealed, showcasing the volume of the former telephone exchange and its impressive floor-to-ceiling heights.

On the upper floors, the original open-plan layouts—initially designed to house machinery—are transformed into fully flexible workspaces that meet both current and future needs.

Previously neglected, the courtyards and terraces had been cluttered with technical equipment. Window parapets facing these areas were removed to create direct access to enhanced and landscaped outdoor spaces, contributing to the well-being of the building’s users.

Balancing heritage preservation with environmental performance

Several strategies were implemented to ensure exemplary environmental performance:

• Minimal demolition, preservation of many existing elements, and careful waste management to reduce carbon emissions.
• Improvements to the building insulation and implementation of an intelligent building management system to optimize energy consumption.
• Connection to the local urban heating and cooling networks.
• Creation of numerous accessible landscaped areas to reduce the heat island effect, incorporating local species and promoting urban biodiversity through a mosaic of habitats suited to wildlife.
• Early integration of the tenant’s requirements avoiding significant post-completion works.

These strategies enabled multiple environmental and low carbon certifications: HQE Bâtiment Durable (Excellent), BREEAM (Excellent), OSMOZ, BBC Effinergie Rénovation 2021, and BBCA Rénovation.