CARE FOR EXISTING

The building in question, in the Art Deco style, occupies a pivotal urban position facing the Bourse de Commerce. Its composed façades open upward toward the sky—an effect reinforced by the building’s restructuring, which introduces contemporary materials and forms. The project thus entails a precise approach to stereotomy and materiality, particularly visible at street level. There, bush-hammered Haims limestone is carefully integrated with both new and preserved joinery. Between the mineral quality of the stone facing and the wrought iron framing the openings, the building ultimately regains its historic entrance at the corner of Rue du Louvre and Rue du Colonel Driant.

REORGANIZING FLOWS

The reinstatement of the building’s original entrance allows for a reconfiguration of circulation and the entry sequence. Taking advantage of the atrium overlooking the courtyard, the project separates spaces dedicated to dining and relaxation—organized around natural light—from circulation areas intended for the public and guests. A glazed canopy in the entrance introduces a degree of permeability, enhancing daylight and supporting the experience of arrival and reception. The vertical circulation system is preserved, structuring movement through the upper floors in constant relation to the courtyard void, where the distinctive spatial qualities of Parisian architecture are revealed.

WARMING THE INTERIORS

Castel, a leading company in beer distribution in Africa, informs the interior redesign through its international identity. One of the project’s ambitions is to express and reflect this material culture. This is achieved through careful attention to detail and materials, with the use of wood species and warm tonalities. This hybridization of motifs and atmospheres becomes a key driver of the interior transformation and of the spatial sequence, culminating in a terrace overlooking the interior block.

ENERGY PERFORMANCE

Finally, the warmth of tones and materials is complemented by an internal thermal renovation, creating a temperate and livable indoor climate, adapted to current and future climatic conditions.