Larry Tate Architecture: March 2013

My dissertation, entitled 'Facade Play', focused on facades of Paris, with particular study in the facades of Parisian Architect Edouard Francois. Two notable projects of his in Paris are the Hotel Fouquet’s Barrière and the Flower Tower. I studied these, and them compared them to the vernacular of the Paris facade with reference to social and design influence, choosing a range of facades from a variety of Paris's 20 Arrondissement.

For a playful insight into my trip to Paris click here and here.

Following is some chosen passages from my study notebook that I did whilst in Paris.

11/10/12 – 8.30

Hotel Fouquet’s Barrière

Upon arrival in Paris my first stop was the Hotel Fouqet’s Barrière, with its new façade by Edouard François. This was one of my top priority buildings, and just three Metro stops from the Coach Park. I’m now sat in a coffee shop called ‘Paul’ on Avenue Franklin de Roosevelt, just off the Champs-Élysées.

The hotel, as its price (from €600 a night) and 5 star reputation suggests, it is in an up market area of Paris. Flanked by the French Fashion Houses, Louis Vuitton, Herme’s, etc etc. The area is clearly an expensive fashion hotspot, just like you might expect in Paris.

I think my favourite part about this addition to the Hotel is the contrasts between the original facades and the new ones. Although theoretically the same design, the different in height, which then disjoins the detailing and material, makes this really interesting but in a subtle way, rather than a shimmering glass box on the end of a 19^th century Parisian building

-Materials: New- grey concrete. Old- limestone.

11/10/12 – 14.00

Flower Tower

The Flower Tower by Edouard François was not what I was expecting! After an hour long trek (walking) to the edge of the Arrondissement. (The Flower Tower is located in the 17^th) I found myself in the area of social housing in which the building is located.

Physically the building is not well-kept, patchy paintwork and dirt. However the prongs of bamboo that create the façade of the building remain almost perfect.

The bamboo façade highlights the thoughts and ideas behind the bamboo, rather than concealing a thought process through glistening white walls and glass. A screen, shade, privacy, greenery. The bamboo itself is quite an obvious aspect of this building to comment on without visiting it, but when you see it up close you notice the subtleties. The depths in the balconies vary, from a full front perspective it is not obvious, but get close to this building, and especially looks at the corners, it is. I’m not sure whether this is to take into consideration light sources for the bamboo, or light sources for the inhabitants (more likely as the bamboo already shades large areas of the windows from sunlight), or to create a subtle shift and interest rather than being a planted ‘block’.

Other than the obvious foliage façade, I don’t think this building works as an inventive or outstanding architecture. I like the planting idea, but it seems like too much, blocking out the light, however this is quite a drab and dingy area of Paris, and this bamboo potentially creates and more pleasant external space to compliment their internal works. To be honest, in essence it seems to me this is just a glorified social block.

11/10/12 – 10.00

As I walk through the streets of Paris it is very obvious why Paris is considered to have a balcony culture. Nearly every building is covered in balconies or window box type areas, nearly all with metal rails fashioned into patterns and designs.

A shame to see not much planting though.

Also the balconies appear on a range of buildings from 18^th-20^1stcentury.

Points to note

As I wander the backstreets it is clear balcony planting is more popular in the quiet roads.

Factors:

Noise,

Pollution,

Potentially commercial units.

Within the Arrondissement still, nearly every opening has a little balcony

Bibliography for full dissertation:

Books

Borrus, Kathy, ‘500 Buildings of Paris’, Black Dog and Leventhal publishers, New York

Lavedan, P, ‘Nouvelle histoire de Paris: histoire de l’urbanisme a Paris, Hachette, Paris, 1975

Le Fefebvre, ‘Writings on cities’, Blackwell publishers

Lubell, Sam, ‘Paris 2000+, New Architecture’, The Monacelli Press, New York, New York

Sutcliffe, Anthony, ‘Paris: An Architectural History’ Yale University Press, New Haven and London, 1993.

Werner, Hegemann, ‘Facades of Buildings: Fronts of old and modern business and dwelling houses’

Journals

Connolly, Dennis ‘Surfing the Green Movement’ Blueprint, April 1997

Slessor, Catherine ‘Funky Fouquet; Architects for Alterations, Edouard Francois’ Architectural Review, November 2007, p. 44-47

Such, Robert ‘Growth on French Housing; Architects: Edouard Francois’ Architectural Record, October 2000, p.42

Such, Robert ‘Root Signs: Architects, Edouard Francois’ Blueprint, December 2000, p. 36-39

‘Edouard Francois’ Playful Addition to Hotel Fouquets Barriere’ Architecture Today, July/August 2007, p. 14-17

Hughes, Karen, ‘Time Spent in Paris’, Dissertation, 1989

(Presented to Brighton Polytechnic as part of the Diploma Course in Architecture)

Blogs (accessed 16/11/12)

http://parisisinvisible.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/cult-of-balcony.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joe_laut/3953448565/

http://pinterest.com/Invit8nStudio/balconies-windows/

http://fleurissez.tumblr.com/

Websites (accessed 13/01/13)

http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/daily-news/brisac-gonzalez-bags-paris-masterplan-gold/8633685.article

http://www.edouardfrancois.com/en

http://www.archdaily.com/24801

Brighton requires a new town hall as current services are stretched. A site is available, Regency Square. It is a historically sensitive area and the local residents take pride in the regency style buildings and atmosphere that Brighton is famous for.

Brighton is a small city, a city of extremes. House prices fluctuate within a few miles by hundreds of percent, public and state schools sit within earshot of each other and half of the secondary schools are public. This poses a number of difficult questions for parents from all backgrounds. They need a space for information, where things can be accessed clearly and concisely, and where other parent's can lend a friendly ear and advice.

The school and Wealth Monopoly that plays out in Brighton

The school gate as a social condenser and it's usage amount during the day.

Re-designing the school gate as a place of exchange and communication. Portable coffee shops prolong the conversation as well as acting as a relay of information from school gate to authority.

Considering the school gate on the town hall site.

Imagining the Town hall as a place of information, friendly and informal. Already considering design aspects like a low, landscaped profile as not to be obtrusive on existing residents.