A RESIDENTIAL 'FOREST' BALCONY

Chapman Taylor's Paris Lab conducted a research study on the important issue of housing, focusing particularly on the needs of people living in major cities. The developmental constraints of large cities mean that there is a need for increased urban density, adaptability and construction speed, while the city’s inhabitants express a growing desire for a closer relationship with nature, environmental protections and a sense of community.

A need for density, a search for privacy within a community and proximity with nature; these contradictory requirements make it necessary to find new spatial solutions in the organisation of urban housing.

We therefore conducted a case study relating to a virtual urban plot of 80m², with three aims:

• High urban density while maintaining privacy for the inhabitants.

• Harmonising nature and housing (terraces, greenery, sunshine).

• Encouraging a community spirit, integrated into the surrounding urban environment, with new local services.

It was also important that we present a commercially realistic proposal, incorporating modern methods of construction such as off-site assembly to allow scalable design.

DENSITY

Our project aims to respond to a significant need for housing. Therefore, the proposed solution extends over the entire plot.

FOREST

The dwellings are arranged around a communal forest in the centre of the plot. This central park offers the flats a sense of privacy and security.

SUNSHINE

The slope of the terraces and the orientation of the buildings allow all the dwellings to benefit from several orientations and to be directly lit by the sun.

COMMUNAL SPACES

Communal spaces like the forest and garden terraces are made available to the residents of the block to enhance community spirit.

FAÇADES

We created a building scheme with two very different exteriors, with urban and largely glazed façades facing outwards and an inward-facing façade of forest balconies overlooking the central woodland plot.

TERRACE AND GARDENS

The units benefit from an outward extension onto generous and sunny garden terraces generated by the building’s tiered architecture. Thanks to the L-shaped flats, the garden terraces provide privacy while offering views of the park in the centre of the plot. The green space is capable of being used for urban kitchen gardens.

FRAME STRUCTURE

We designed the building to meet the aim of preventing shadows and providing hanging gardens for every unit, bathed in sunshine.

Internal layout is rational and realistic, using a regular frame for the units (which vary between one and four bedrooms), regular central cores, a dual aspect (or at least two orientations) and optimised common areas.

The structural regularity of the plan lends itself to the possible use of modular, off-site construction – leading to an accelerated building schedule, a high quality of finish and potentially large financial savings.

With this design, we have provided the basis of a new community, open to both the city and nature.

By designing in a way which allows for efficient and high-quality modular construction, we can help alleviate housing shortages and bring life back to our cities very quickly. By incorporating the principles of biophilic design, we can help promote physical and mental wellbeing among those who inhabit and use our town and city centres.

For more information, please contact: marketing@chapmantaylor.com