True and creative, RMDM architects agency puts its energy in the research of a senseful architecture, responding to the events that surround it, entire and poetical, ambitious ndeed, but far from the obviousnesses of the conventional. Since 2001, creation year of the agency following to their Europan VI award, the 3 associates Eric Dolent, Philippe Maillols and Alexandre de Muizon’s architectural biases have been dictated by the alliance of the unique and the coherent. This process leads them towards a present work, sensible, generating identity and atmospheres, where aims and constraints stay mastered and heard like inputs of new opportunities. 

This is certainly this alchemy between artistic approach and contextual consideration that brings them to win in 2002 the “The New Albums of the Young Architects” first session competition and to exhibit at the 8th Architecture Biennale in Venice and at the 1st Architecture Biennale in Beijing. Having today the support and confidence of some famous public and private clients, in France and abroad, RMDM architects validate continuously their approach through various projects at every scale. To renew the urban face in re transcribing the questionings of a reliable architecture aiming to affirm intrinsic qualities of the built beyond the plans, to seek the added values in terms of practicality and use comfort. These are the motivations that animate RMDM architects’ technical analysis and modeling developments.

In RMDM Architectes studio, we believe that every space has potential and our principal aim is to use innovative design solutions to improve the quality of our surrondings and provide a service tailored to your needs. Our team of dedicaded architects creates exciting and well though spaces. The studio was established following the Europan VI victory, and the architectural bias of the 3 partners Eric Dolent, Philippe Maillols and Alexandre de Muizon has continued to be dictated by combining the unique with the coherent ever since. 

Introduction RMDM’s first social housing development establishes a unique building envelope on an enclosed urban block undergoing radical transformation.

The program consists of two buildings with five apartments (located at 5 and 9 Impasse Dupuy respectively) and is in line with the policy which fights against substandard housing in Paris. It offers contemporary and comfortable housings in the 18th district of the city to those on lower incomes. 

Urban context The project is located on two lands of less than 250 square metre. These areas are situated Impasse Dupuy, a small street around 4 meters wide which ends at street Philippe de Girard. In such a dense urban fabric, our project is intended to enhance the feeling of space. 

Architectural Response Each building is U-shaped around a patio and is separated from the street by a small green plot. The apartments have double exposure and are designed with large glass areas that flood the building with natural light and give a nice view of the outside. The living rooms overlook the public spaces and contribute to the vitality of urban life. The exterior walls are covered with coated aluminium (aluminum = US )cassette panel cladding in three shades of grey. Plain panels on the standard sections alternate with perforated panels on the railings and the hinged shutters. That gives a strong architectural relief to the façade, and provides both protection from the sun and privacy for the residents. The gable received special attention and was afforded the same treatment as the façade due to its importance in the building’s perception and its impact on the landscape of the cul-de-sac. 

Environmental Qualities Separated from the cul-de-sac by a painted metal fence, the space freed up has been planted with low-growing trees and shrubs to bring greenery to an environment which today is exclusively mineral (Cornus Kousa, cornus Alba…). The low-pitched roof is equipped with thermal solar panels that provide some of the hot water production. The two rear wings have terraced roofs.The building is insulated from the outside and the heating is provided by a gas condensing shared boiler. All of the apartments are fitted with Type B hydro-adjustable mechanical ventilation systems. The building holds a Habitat & Environment Profile A certification (Habitat & Environnement profil A option performance), in addition to the Very High Energy Performance (THPE EnR) 2005 certification (Benchmark Consumption -30%). It was built according to the "clean site" charter.

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