ZAC PAJOL Offices

Project Details

Project Description

FROM THE ARCHITECTS:

The office space of the ZAC PAJOL is situated in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, in the context of a vast regeneration project for this previously industrial area. The building, initiated by COGEDIM, and conceived by the office LIN Architecture and Urbanism in collaboration with MARS, has been inspired by the tradition of the industrial hotels and establishes a singular volume. The apparent rigidity of the building contrasts with its flexible use, and constitutes a durable structure.

The ZAC PAJOL office space, situated in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, belongs to a vast regeneration project for this previously industrial area, which aims to become an emblematic sustainable neighborhood. The 5000 m2 building is the first office building constructed in inner Paris which responds to the BBC® certificate requirements. The project guarantees to regulate the cost of its future energy consumption, to environmentally compensate for the carbon emissions produced during its construction, and to comply with the HQE® label.

Inspired by the style of the 1930’s “HOTEL INDUSTRIEL”, this new office space is located adjacent to “La HALLE des MESSAGERIES des DOUANES” and parallel to the railway lines leading to the “GARE de l’ EST”.

The solid linear volume is simultaneously open to its surroundings: the park, the street, the warehouses. The four facades vary, depending on their orientation on the site, to offer an exceptional perspective towards the city. Recognisable from the distance, the building marks the crossroads of rue PAJOL and rue RIQUET. When approaching, figures become visible through the structure’s subtle transparency.

The concrete supporting structure follows a grid of 7.73m by 5.50m in plan, which repeats on each floor. By reducing the primary structure of the building to a central core and load-bearing façade, an office space with maximum flexibility is created.

Linked by a common central zone, the building extends on seven floors, with a rental area of 4854 m2 of office space to accommodate 500 people.

The central core provides the entire vertical circulation (2 elevators and 2 staircases) and the necessary service rooms such as kitchenettes, WCs, server and storage rooms.

Four floors of the office space, with an area of 889 m2 each, can be subdivided using a base grid of 1.35m by 1.35m for individual offices with a minimal area of 2,70m x 2,70m, or remain uninterrupted for open-plan offices. Each floor can be divided into a maximum of 40 units. The ground floor provides a surface dedicated to commercial use, a cafeteria, secure bike storage, as well as an opening to the 217m² garden. The simple typology employed by the project, with its highly adaptable interior and timeless envelope, establishes a functional and durable building.

The building’s approach to sustainability utilises several strategies. The prefabricated structure and facade combine high performance finishes and insulation. All facades contain openings to naturally ventilate the building and the south façade is triple glazed to prevent solar gain in summer. Low-energy gradable lighting, controlled by light detectors, operates throughout the building.

The roof acts as the fifth façade of the building; 40 m2 of photovoltaic cells generate energy, planted areas store water to reduce surface run-off and the incline is equipped to prevent overheating and thermal losses.

These systems enabled the validation of the BBC ® Label, a BREEAM evaluation level « Very Good », as well as the HQE label. A quantitative assessment of emissions ® ADEME for the building’s conception and construction was realized in order to regulate their impact. A partnership reforestation project was completed for the “GARANTIE Carbone COMPENSÉ ®” of the emissions associated with the construction of the building, which emphasizes a global environmental approach throughout the project.

Concrete, metal and glass are the three dominant materials used in the project, following the idea of a typical “hotel industrial”. Two different types of concrete were used: reinforced concrete for the structure and ACRYTHERM©, a highly performativity concrete composed of 80% quartz with an acrylic additive, for the facade. Natural light enters the building through large windows. A solar shading system enables the user to vary light and heat, which generates irregularities on the systematic facade.