The ground floor is dedicated to shops, directly accessible from the promenade and the pedestrian square. This compact base and the housing volume are separated; a garden level forms an interstice of void, clearly perceptible from the public paths. Connected to the street and the basement by two large stairways, this garden level is reserved to inhabitants and leads to housing levels. The common spaces and the triangular landings become genuine spaces for living at each level to meet and socialize.

Overlooking on two open-pit courtyards, the 153 housing units are open on both sides and include a “varangue”, a creole veranda attenuating the tropical climate. An interval separating the pieces and the exterior porous façade allows easy ventilation throughout the whole apartment, by creating an offset between the exterior and the courtyard. To pay homage to this vernacular architecture, the façades of the building derives from a game of stratification and hollowness, following a geometric grid. The degree of opening diminishes with height, relatively to the thermic needs. The choice of the material for the trimming of the façade is dark timber turning to red, implemented in different configurations with following needs.

The operation aims at a CERQUAL certification and abides by RTAA-DOM.

Client: Icade promotion, Sodiac / Cost : n.c. / Surface: 10 488 m² / Schedule : 2013 / Team: PCA (lead architect), LAN (architect plot 4), ARCOBA (All trades Engineering), BASE (Landscaper), CSD-Faces (Security), VS-A (Façades)