A new living hub, just a few metro stops from Paris, Archipel brings fresh dynamism to Rue du Ménil through the development of shops, nurseries, and spaces for social interaction and community life. Seventeen buildings are arranged around a green corridor punctuated by public, semi-public, and private spaces, gardens, a plaza, and a shared greenhouse.
The plot’s design is guided by the principle of optimal organization of pedestrian flows and uses within a central space. The creation of a publicly accessible pathway structures the block, acting as the project’s backbone, onto which the residential units, alleyways, and services are connected.
Along the site and around this urban archipelago, a dynamic landscape typology offers an experiential journey composed of a small commercial plaza and a water garden, a social gathering square, a shared vegetable greenhouse, and a sensory garden facing a nursery. Together, these elements give meaning and cohesion to this small fragment of the city.
Peripheral roadways around the plot allow for the creation of a pedestrian- and cyclist-only promenade, providing a safe, serene, and calm environment for all users.
The material palette, designed with sustainable development in mind, is harmonized with the immediate environment of the site. The ground treatment highlights the surfaces through differentiated finishes, encouraging and inviting users to stroll through the heart of the block: the main axis is paved with large linear concrete slabs, while other areas feature brick paving, gradually giving way to greenery near the residential buildings.
