From garage to housing: the story of a remarkable transformation

Renovating existing buildings and transforming them to meet the various challenges of modern city life is a task that requires great care, expertise and meticulous attention to detail. The Paris based Atelier Téqui has risen to the challenge, playing an active role in the city's transformation through a delicate intervention.

At first glance, the project seems simple. This is all about the conversion and elevation of a former garage into housing in Paris. But on closer inspection, the task is anything but straightforward. First of all, there is the location of the plot. Next, there is the original function of the project, which required structural work, partial demolition and a carefully planned extension.

The aim is to provide the city with 63 homes in a variety of configurations. The complex, built in 1957 by architect Claude Beraud, winner of the first Grand Prix de Rome, housed a Peugeot garage. The building originally consisted of a ground floor and one upper floor, but in accordance with the city's requirements, two floors were added in 1960 and another two in 1964. A final floor was then added to complete this series of additions. This was at a time when cars played an important role in cities. Today, the situation has changed. We are witnessing a paradigm shift whereby the old garages that were once so characteristic of the area are gradually giving way to essential functions such as housing. The project was carried out by Batigère Habitat and Quadral Promotion, who called on the services of Atelier Téqui.

The project is designed according to a decreasing template of GF (Ground Floor)+6 on the street side, down to GF+3 at the back of the plot and GF+1 in the extension on the south side of the block. Organised on half-levels connected by ramps at each end, the building offers large open spaces that have been used to create apartments of various sizes.

The structure comprises a multitude of peripheral exterior walls, six interior columns and a network of main and secondary beams, as well as slabs that contribute to its great adaptability to a variety of uses. The former garage, now converted into housing, will continue to live on until the day it is transformed into something else. Aware of future developments, Atelier Téqui approached the concept with care and attention to detail. The precise architectural design conceals careful consideration for future adjustments.

The facade overlooking Avenue Parmentier has been preserved in its entirety and is composed of large strip windows that run the entire length of the building. Apart from the ground floor, which has been adjusted to create large glass walls for commercial use, the rest retains its authenticity through the meticulous restoration of the concrete. The building has a strong presence and displays an architectural style that hints at a certain change. The former garage, which served as emergency accommodation for a time, is now beginning a new chapter in its history. The facade follows this logic of transformation, because, according to Louis Téqui, it is not a question of erasing history but of creating a project that will leave a lasting mark on the memory of the place, the presence of cars in Paris and the changes that have followed as a result of urban policies.

A large entrance porch, built along the southern boundary of the site, provides bicycle parking and access to the two side halls and the small building at the rear of the site. Atelier Téqui has taken care to introduce several green spaces and create a multitude of planted terraces that enhance the overall appearance and offer a feeling of well-being to users. The apartments have very different layouts, ranging from simple units with large bay windows to duplexes with flower-filled terraces and ‘souplex’ units (Ed.: in France, a souplex generally consists of two floors: the ground floor and the basement) opening onto an interior garden covered with a forest of horizontal beams that mark the history of the site.

Everything has been carefully designed for the comfort of the users. The project meets various sustainability standards and has received several labels, including NF Habitat HQE, Effinergie Rénovation and Bâtiment Biosourcé. The skilfully converted garage blends in perfectly with the neighbourhood. Its existing structure and added walls contribute to the fabric of the city. This major renovation project, which is a first, will probably be followed by others.