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.

Territorial Approach: Our proposal is based on the analysis of the Lebanese marinas’systematic typology to formulate an alternative. We set a complex model where programs, water and earth interpenetrate to form an atmosphere - both dense, urban and of the seaside, appearing like the well-known ‘Côte d’Azur’. We propose a reconstitution of a landscape based on clear territorial concepts: a Mediterranean terrace garden resting on the site’s level, two large piers that open towards the sea, an island and a peninsula to extend this organization to sea. 

Without the use of ornamental, we plan a maritime urbanism, and a generous and enthusiastic architecture. This contextual work is centered on the main qualities of the land: an exceptionally linear shoreline (300m long) and strong declivity (20m). The available shoreline, combined with a transversal design permit to increase connections with the Mediterranean Sea. The topography allows a panoramic design of the terrace park and offer views towards the sea. The Coral Beach & Côte d’Azur Hotel complex offers a blend of infrastructure, city and nature, serving a major program of tourism and leisure. The programmatic breakdown: In order to define the guidelines of our project, we started by considering the two plots as a set. We define a straight and strong line suggesting a major axis towards the sea. This line will be both used as primary access to the site and as demarcation between the two programmatic entities : Coral Beach & Côte d’Azur. A shattered line from north to south generates an area that should not be considered as a boundary, but as a place of gathering, life and exchange –We call it: the “Croisette”. At the back of this axis are located villas and chalets where they welcome large sea view openings. 

We made a strong presence of greenery : the roofs, gardens and patios are widely planted and chalets are treated like a fold in the landslide. The dense vegetation also aims to preserve the privacy and tranquility of each villa, the plant barrier limiting the vis-à-vis and pushing back the activities of the "Croisette". On the opposite, our ambition is to work and play with the mixity of the requested program, thus creating wanted diversity and density on a chosen location: the “Croisette”. 

The architectural intentions: The Côte d’Azur, because of its building permit prior to the urban settlement, and generates an architectural exception to bear a strong gesture. Through a compact architecture, we propose to scoop out some volumes to create multiple and various outdoor spaces. Thus, we keep the original shape: behind a unitary outline lies a clever hotel, rich with diversity, places and buildings. We set up the views in three ways: - Along the facade without outdoor space, with large windows from floor to ceiling, a breathtaking view. - With a spacious balcony protected by glass shields for greater privacy, a filtered view. - With an open balcony and in its extension, water blending in with the color of the sea, a panoramic view. The shoreline modeling work allowed us to create a platform in contact with the water: the Hotel Côte d’Azur is literally feet in the water. Two other buildings create a waterfront and contrast with the more organic architectural elements The chalets are G+1 and mono-oriented, while villas are more spacious and have several levels of intimacy: an opening towards the outside and a planted environment, another towards the patio. 

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