Housing in the park of the La Bruyère estate

Considering "what is already there" in the inhabited park

In Versailles, the Bruyère domain is located at the limit of the Madame Elisabeth tree-filled park and a residential neighborhood with varied forms. A surrounding wall made of meulière stone protects this domain with its preserved vegetation. In its heart, two small edifices housed a boarding school from 1910. Those buildings were renovated and nine housing units are implanted in this domain between the remarkable trees, the perimeter wall and the existing buildings, while respecting and replying to "what is already there". A common reflection led to the definition of a townhouse type with a two-story and thin broken line. The broken line of the “comma”-shaped volumes preserves the existing trees, while the views in the park are revealed and offer forms of intimacy for inhabitants.

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ChartierDalix worked on the distributions as elements added to the volumes. These walkways, thresholds supporting vegetation, reinforce the landscaped character of the domain. The grounds become a common foundation for these habitations. Both garden and distribution, the domain hosts each building by becoming a continuity of the living space.

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Solid brick - common material for both typologies composing the project - was chosen for its raw and noticeably uneven aspect. Echoing Meulière stones and bricks of the existing pavilions, solid brick responds to this traditional materiality and ensures the integration of the buildings in the site.

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Our response presents two facades: on the one hand a sober mineral frontage and on the other hand a frontage complemented by an exterior green gallery serving the apartments. Supporting climbing vegetation, the walkways come alive throughout the day and across the seasons. The apartments are dual-aspect, double-oriented, and enjoy a privileged relationship with the park.

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Location

Versailles (78)

Client

Emerige

Area

9,500 m²

Team

Mugo (landscaping), AB environnement (fluids), VPEAS (economist), AUAS (structure), Zefco (hqe)

Associate architects

Franklin Azzi Architecture

Cost

€29 M before tax

Phase

Delivered in 2025

Project manager

Guillaume Cournut

Mission

Complete

Program

137 housing units (accession and social): 9 new buildings and 10 rehabilitated existing buildings, landscaping

Photos

Schnepp Renou